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Alright, I see. I hope you understand that this book, published in New Age circles, is a not a reputable work on history or even a reasonable pop-sci distillati

Alright, I see. I hope you understand that this book, published in New Age circles, is a not a reputable work on history or even a reasonable pop-sci distillation thereof. Consequently, I feel it is irresponsible to make the claim in the post above.

dr_dshiv 7y ago
Not so! Kinglsey is a great scholar and respected as such. This book is extremely well referenced -- more than half the book is notes and references. It also has a blurb from Walter Burkett just before he died. Yes, it's not standard history -- and he takes a spiritual perspective. But it is extremely appropriate for the subject matter. Impuning the book because it is published in new age circles is unfair. I recommend refreshing your perspective by reading "esotericism in the academy" by Wouter Hanagraaf. Or, "western esotericism: a guide for the perplexed"
- Mediterraneo10 7y ago
  > Kinglsey is a great scholar and respected as such He is not however respected as a historian or archaeologist of Northern Eurasia, which would allow him to claim that any figure in Greek history came specifically from Mongolia. If he says in the book that this is merely his own speculation, that would be fine, but the fact is that speculation is all it would be. > I recommend refreshing your perspective by reading "esotericism in the academy" by Wouter Hanagraaf. Or, "western esotericism: a guide for the perplexed" Esoteric philosophy and its validity or lack thereof is irrelevant to the historical–archaeological claim that you made in your post above.
  - dr_dshiv 7y ago
    > Esoteric philosophy and its validity or lack thereof is irrelevant to the historical–archaeological claim that you made in your post above. I mentioned the work on esotericism in history in reference to the dismissal of kinglsey on the basis of new age affiliation. And speculation can be essential for creating plausible narratives in a world with limited data. But I agree, speculation should always be labeled!
dr_dshiv 7y ago
Posting Kingsley's Wikipedia as an intro: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kingsley_(scholar) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kingsley_(scholar)

dr_dshiv 7y ago

Not so! Kinglsey is a great scholar and respected as such. This book is extremely well referenced -- more than half the book is notes and references. It also has a blurb from Walter Burkett just before he died. Yes, it's not standard history -- and he takes a spiritual perspective. But it is extremely appropriate for the subject matter. Impuning the book because it is published in new age circles is unfair. I recommend refreshing your perspective by reading "esotericism in the academy" by Wouter Hanagraaf. Or, "western esotericism: a guide for the perplexed"

Mediterraneo10 7y ago
> Kinglsey is a great scholar and respected as such He is not however respected as a historian or archaeologist of Northern Eurasia, which would allow him to claim that any figure in Greek history came specifically from Mongolia. If he says in the book that this is merely his own speculation, that would be fine, but the fact is that speculation is all it would be. > I recommend refreshing your perspective by reading "esotericism in the academy" by Wouter Hanagraaf. Or, "western esotericism: a guide for the perplexed" Esoteric philosophy and its validity or lack thereof is irrelevant to the historical–archaeological claim that you made in your post above.
- dr_dshiv 7y ago
  > Esoteric philosophy and its validity or lack thereof is irrelevant to the historical–archaeological claim that you made in your post above. I mentioned the work on esotericism in history in reference to the dismissal of kinglsey on the basis of new age affiliation. And speculation can be essential for creating plausible narratives in a world with limited data. But I agree, speculation should always be labeled!

dr_dshiv 7y ago

Posting Kingsley's Wikipedia as an intro: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kingsley_(scholar) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kingsley_(scholar)