Suchergebnisse

Distillation flasks, sugar cane mills, and the brain – the scientific revolution created a spectacular range of themes, even in a traditional genre such as didactic poetry. In this volume, internationally renowned researchers in Latin didactic poetry examine the many facets of early modern scientific poetry and offer insights on these previously neglected texts.

The relevance of medieval studies and their future prospects are issues related not only to the humanities, but also to society at large and to its political and cultural sensibilities. The problem touches upon the relevance of the fields studied by medievalists, and of their research, for both present and future, especially for the general awareness of historical processes which are marked by complex dynamics and non-linear entanglements. One way to challenge received preconceptions and to sharpen the sensitivity in society and academia alike for the relevance of medieval studies, might be to question the appropriateness of the term 'middle ages' itself when designating an entire period of history. When reconsidering received wisdom concerning the definition of historical watersheds and chronological boundaries, we can become aware of the ongoing relevance of 'medieval' phenomena and of their transformations within 'modern' society. Such continuities can be illustrated by referring to various phenomena, including globalization, migration, mobility, multilingualism, national cultures and attitudes towards nature and the environment. In view of the fact that the fields studied by medievalists and the results produced by their research continue to be of critical importance for an understanding of modernity, medieval disciplines are called upon to develop guidelines and strategies for activities underlining and fostering their outreach, not only towards an academic public, but also towards political and educational actors, thereby heightening the awareness of the crucial importance of medieval studies for the cultural and political development of society in years to come. On the other hand, medieval studies – oriented towards the present and future – always have to bear in mind the historical conditions of their epistemologies, including their political implications and consequences. This is the only way to avoid an instrumentalization of medieval studies for political ends, e.g. by right-wing activists claiming support for their populist agendas by trying to reconstruct an imagined community of the 'Christian west'. ; The relevance of medieval studies and their future prospects are issues related not only to the humanities, but also to society at large and to its political and cultural sensibilities. The problem touches upon the relevance of the fields studied by medievalists, and of their research, for both present and future, especially for the general awareness of historical processes which are marked by complex dynamics and non-linear entanglements. One way to challenge received preconceptions and to sharpen the sensitivity in society and academia alike for the relevance of medieval studies, might be to question the appropriateness of the term 'middle ages' itself when designating an entire period of history. When reconsidering received wisdom concerning the definition of historical watersheds and chronological boundaries, we can become aware of the ongoing relevance of 'medieval' phenomena and of their transformations within 'modern' society. Such continuities can be illustrated by referring to various phenomena, including globalization, migration, mobility, multilingualism, national cultures and attitudes towards nature and the environment. In view of the fact that the fields studied by medievalists and the results produced by their research continue to be of critical importance for an understanding of modernity, medieval disciplines are called upon to develop guidelines and strategies for activities underlining and fostering their outreach, not only towards an academic public, but also towards political and educational actors, thereby heightening the awareness of the crucial importance of medieval studies for the cultural and political development of society in years to come. On the other hand, medieval studies – oriented towards the present and future – always have to bear in mind the historical conditions of their epistemologies, including their political implications and consequences. This is the only way to avoid an instrumentalization of medieval studies for political ends, e.g. by right-wing activists claiming support for their populist agendas by trying to reconstruct an imagined community of the 'Christian west'.

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Table of Contents -- Body -- Wilhelm Schmidt-Biggemann: Introduction: The Exigencies and Impositions of Tradition -- The Exigencies of the Self-Evident, and Traditions as an Arsenal of Symbolic Politics -- Peter-André Alt: Traditions and the Dynamics of Change: Preliminary Thoughts on a Key Issue in Early Modern Studies -- Phillip H. Stump: Ideas of Reform and Tradition at the Late Medieval Reform Councils -- I. Gerhart Ladner and the Analysis of Reform -- II. Conciliar Reform -- III. Secular Parallels -- IV. Reform and Tradition in Harmony -- V. The Central Topos: Reform in Head and Members -- VI. Reform in Dissonance and Dialogue with Tradition -- Conclusion -- Margitta Rouse: (Un)‍Veiling the Veil: Trojan Temporalities, Chaucerian Ekphrasis and Literary Innovation in Shakespeare's Rape of Lucrece -- I. Renewing Lucrece as a ˋTrojan' Figure -- II. Rhetoric Versus Realism, or, the Heartless Early Critic -- III. ˋJust slightly askew': Trojan Ekphrasis, Classical, Medieval and Early Modern -- Maria Muccillo: Philosophy and Orthodoxy: Valuation and Devaluation of the Platonic Tradition in the Late Renaissance -- Anna Laura Puliafito: The Platonic Tradition and its Fates: Francesco Patrizi and Giordano Bruno -- Katharina Krause: Indomptable Valeur: Le Grand Condé and the End of the Hero in Art -- Gideon Stiening: Natural Sociability? The Aristotelian Tradition as a Challenge to Modern Natural Law as Reflected in European Enlightenment Literature: Jonathan Swift - Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Johann Karl Wezel -- Introduction -- I. Aristotelianism versus Contractualism -- II. Gulliver's Travels (1726): Inventing Political Tradition -- III. La Nouvelle Héloxse (1761): Demolishing Tradition -- IV. Belphegor (1776): Trumping Tradition -- Conclusion: Political Traditions as Impositions