Aztec Philosophy
Aztec Philosophy

Author: James Maffie

Publisher: University Press of Colorado

Published: 2014-03-15

Total Pages: 609

ISBN-13: 1607322234

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In Aztec Philosophy, James Maffie shows the Aztecs advanced a highly sophisticated and internally coherent systematic philosophy worthy of consideration alongside other philosophies from around the world. Bringing together the fields of comparative world philosophy and Mesoamerican studies, Maffie excavates the distinctly philosophical aspects of Aztec thought. Aztec Philosophy focuses on the ways Aztec metaphysics—the Aztecs’ understanding of the nature, structure and constitution of reality—underpinned Aztec thinking about wisdom, ethics, politics,\ and aesthetics, and served as a backdrop for Aztec religious practices as well as everyday activities such as weaving, farming, and warfare. Aztec metaphysicians conceived reality and cosmos as a grand, ongoing process of weaving—theirs was a world in motion. Drawing upon linguistic, ethnohistorical, archaeological, historical, and contemporary ethnographic evidence, Maffie argues that Aztec metaphysics maintained a processive, transformational, and non-hierarchical view of reality, time, and existence along with a pantheistic theology. Aztec Philosophy will be of great interest to Mesoamericanists, philosophers, religionists, folklorists, and Latin Americanists as well as students of indigenous philosophy, religion, and art of the Americas.

Discourses of the Elders: The Aztec Huehuetlatolli A First English Translation
Discourses of the Elders: The Aztec Huehuetlatolli A First English Translation

Author:

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 2023-08-29

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 1324020598

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“A dazzlingly fresh take on universal themes.… [B]ursting with practical wisdom.” —Skye C. Cleary, author of How to Be Authentic A philosophy grounded not in a transcendent divinity, afterlife, or individualism, but in a rooted communal life. Western philosophers have long claimed that God, if such a being exists, is a personal force capable of reason, and that the path to a good human life is also the path to a happy one. But what if these claims prove false, or at least deeply misleading? The Aztecs of central Mexico had a rich philosophical tradition, recorded in Latin script by Spanish clergymen and passed down for centuries in the native Nahuatl language—one of the earliest transcripts being the Huehuetlatolli, or Discourses of the Elders, compiled by Friar Andrés de Olmos circa 1535. Novel in its form, the Discourses consists of short conversations between elders and young people on how to achieve a meaningful and morally sound life. The Aztecs had a metaphysical tradition but no concept of “being.” They considered the mind an embodied force, present not just in the brain but throughout the body. Their core values relied on collective responsibility and group wisdom, not individual thought and action, orienting life around one’s actions in this realm rather than an afterlife, distinctly opposed to the Christian beliefs that permeate Europe and America. Sebastian Purcell’s fluency in his grandmother’s native Nahuatl brings to light the Aztec ethical landscape in brilliant clarity. Never before translated into English in its entirety, and one of the earliest post-contact texts ever recorded, Discourses of the Elders reflects the wisdom communicated by oral tradition and proves that philosophy can be active, communal, and grounded not in a “pursuit of happiness” but rather the pursuit of a meaningful life.

Latin American and Latinx Philosophy
Latin American and Latinx Philosophy

Author: Robert Eli Sanchez, Jr.

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-08-13

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 1351585991

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Latin American and Latinx Philosophy: A Collaborative Introduction is a beginner’s guide to canonical texts in Latin American and Latinx philosophy, providing the non-specialist with necessary historical and philosophical context, and demonstrating their contemporary relevance. It is written in jargon-free prose for students and professors who are interested in the subject, but who don’t know where to begin. Each of the twelve chapters, written by a leading scholar in the field, examines influential texts that are readily available in English and introduces the reader to a period, topic, movement, or school that taken together provide a broad overview of the history, nature, scope, and value of Latin American and Latinx philosophy. Although this volume is primarily intended for the reader without a background in the Latin American and Latinx tradition, specialists will also benefit from its many novelties, including an introduction to Aztec ethics; a critique of “the Latino threat” narrative; the legacy of Latin American philosophy in the Chicano movement; an overview of Mexican existentialism, Liberation philosophy, and Latin American and Latinx feminisms; a philosophical critique of indigenism; a study of Latinx contributions to the philosophy of immigration; and an examination of the intersection of race and gender in Latinx identity.

Aztec Empire, Rise and Fall
Aztec Empire, Rise and Fall

Author: A.J. Carmichael

Publisher: AJ CARMICHAEL

Published:

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13:

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The Aztec Empire, Rise and Fall is a captivating exploration of one of the most fascinating cultures in world history. From their mysterious origins in ancient Mesoamerica to their tragic demise at the hands of Spanish conquistadors, this book offers a comprehensive account of the Aztecs' rise to power, their legendary military prowess, and their complex religious beliefs and mythology. Beginning with a tour of the Aztec's stunning archaeological sites, readers are transported back in time to witness the birth of a civilization that would go on to dominate the Americas for centuries. From the towering pyramids of Tenochtitlan to the majestic temples of Teotihuacan, every aspect of Aztec culture is brought to life through vivid descriptions and stunning imagery. As the story unfolds, readers are treated to an in-depth examination of Aztec warfare, including their use of advanced weapons and tactics, and their ruthless treatment of defeated enemies. The book also delves into the complex religious beliefs and mythology of the Aztecs, including their worship of deities like Huitzilopochtli and Quetzalcoatl, and their gruesome practice of human sacrifice. But the Aztec's dominance would not last forever, and the book also details the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the catastrophic impact of their conquest. Through first-hand accounts and meticulous research, readers are transported to the heart of the conflict, witnessing the betrayal, brutality, and tragedy that marked the end of the Aztec civilization. "The Rise and Fall of the Aztec Civilization" is a thrilling journey through one of the most remarkable civilizations in human history. With its engaging prose, stunning visuals, and meticulous attention to detail, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating world of ancient Mesoamerica.

Aztec Religion and Art of Writing
Aztec Religion and Art of Writing

Author: Isabel Laack

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2019-03-27

Total Pages: 455

ISBN-13: 9004392017

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Winner of the 2020 Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion: Historical Studies In her groundbreaking investigation from the perspective of the aesthetics of religion, Isabel Laack explores the religion and art of writing of the pre-Hispanic Aztecs of Mexico. Inspired by postcolonial approaches, she reveals Eurocentric biases in academic representations of Aztec cosmovision, ontology, epistemology, ritual, aesthetics, and the writing system to provide a powerful interpretation of the Nahua sense of reality. Laack transcends the concept of “sacred scripture” traditionally employed in religions studies in order to reconstruct the Indigenous semiotic theory and to reveal how Aztec pictography can express complex aspects of embodied meaning. Her study offers an innovative approach to nonphonographic semiotic systems, as created in many world cultures, and expands our understanding of human recorded visual communication. This book will be essential reading for scholars and readers interested in the history of religions, Mesoamerican studies, and the ancient civilizations of the Americas. "This excellent book, written with intellectual courage and critical self-awareness, is a brilliant, multilayered thought experiment into the images and stories that made up the Nahua sense of reality as woven into their sensational ritual performances and colorful symbolic writing system." - Davíd Carrasco, Harvard University

Key Concepts in World Philosophies
Key Concepts in World Philosophies

Author: Sarah Flavel

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2023-01-12

Total Pages: 481

ISBN-13: 1350168149

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Crossing continents and running across centuries, Key Concepts in World Philosophies brings together the 45 core ideas associated with major Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Islamic, African, Ancient Greek, Indigenous and modern European philosophers. The universal theme of self-cultivation and transformation connects each concept. Each one seeks to change our understanding the world or the life we are living. From Chinese xin and karma in Buddhist traditions to okwu in African philosophy, equity in Islamic thought and the good life in Aztec philosophy, an international team of philosophers cover a diverse set of ideas and theories originating from thinkers such as Confucius, Buddha, Dogen, Nezahualcoyotl, Nietzsche and Zhuangzi. Organised around the major themes of knowledge, metaphysics and aesthetics, each short chapter provides an introductory overview supported by a glossary. This is a one-of-a-kind toolkit that allows you to read philosophical texts from all over the world and learn how their ideas can be applied to your own life.

Curanderismo Soul Retrieval
Curanderismo Soul Retrieval

Author: Erika Buenaflor

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2019-05-28

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 159143341X

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A step-by-step shamanic guide to navigating the non-ordinary realms, locating lost soul fragments, and reintegrating them • Explains how the soul is a form of sacred energy that can escape when someone experiences trauma or stressful situations • Explores how to work with the 5 Mesoamerican cardinal directions to connect with lost soul fragments, create the ideal space for them to return, and ensure a lasting soul retrieval • Details how to enter a trance journey for navigating the spirit realm through shamanic breathwork, shamanic dancing, toning methods, as well as hand postures Drawing on her more than 20 years’ experience working with present-day Mesoamerican curanderos/as and the ancient shamanic healing traditions of the Mexica and Maya, Erika Buenaflor, M.A., J.D., provides a step-by-step guide for the curanderismo practice of soul retrieval. She explains how the soul is a form of sacred energy that can escape when someone experiences trauma or is threatened by challenging and stressful situations. Its absence can be responsible for a host of negative conditions including physical ailments, depression, insomnia, and dysfunctional behavior patterns. Exploring how to retrieve this sacred energy, or soul fragments, as well as resolve cases of soul theft, the author details how to journey through the non-ordinary realms of the Underworld, Middleworld, and Upperworld to locate lost soul fragments and reintegrate them. She explains how to enter a trance journey, providing instructions for shamanic breathwork practices, shamanic dancing, sounding and toning methods, as well as hand postures (mudras) to facilitate trance states. She explores how to perform soul diagnosis, create a loving and nurturing space for soul fragments to return, and work with the healing wisdom of the 5 Mesoamerican cardinal directions: South, West, North, East, and the Center, which marries the other directions and offers a portal to other worlds. She offers pressure point exercises to release the energies of traumas and contemplative exercises to continue the reintegration of soul fragments after the trance journey. She also explains how to connect with animal guardians to aid you in the soul retrieval process. Revealing how to achieve a lasting retrieval of soul energy, Buenaflor shows how the dynamic process of curanderismo soul retrieval can heal many forms and degrees of trauma and help people move forward in life with more clarity, self-awareness, empowerment, and greater depths of authentic self-love.

The Allure of Nezahualcoyotl
The Allure of Nezahualcoyotl

Author: Jongsoo Lee

Publisher: UNM Press

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 0826343376

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Lee offers a more realistic portrait of the legendary Aztec ruler Nezahualcoyotl, derived from examination of original Nahuatl codices and poetry, as well as Spanish chronicles.