Book Review
by Brenna Corbit, Technical Services Librarian
For those with an interest in classical philosophy and ancient pagan beliefs, Antón Bousquet’s The World of the Gauls: Foundation(s) of a Celtic Philosophy offers a unique interpretation of a somewhat forgotten past, upon which we can build a promising future.
The ancient Gauls left us no written records, but the past reveals many relics that tell their story, especially the highly detailed Gundestrup cauldron (ca. 150 to 1B.C.) that reveals much of their religious beliefs. This artifact serves the foundation for much of Bousquet’s arguments. He also supports his discourse with comparative linguistics, ancient Greek, Roman and Gallo-Roman literature, and the philosophies of Heraclitus and Heidegger.
With this strong support, Bousquet discusses at length the foundation for the Gaul’s spiritual/philosophical world view, which is divided into a tripartite whole. The first realm is the Dubnos, the dark deep earth from which all life arises and returns, a place ruled by the chthonic horned god Cernunnos. Above this realm is the Albios, the bright light of the metaphysical sky, ruled by three beings: Taranis, god of thunder, Lugus, the sun god, and the celestial goddess, Rigani. In between these two realms is the Bitu, the abode of Teutates, god of the people, blood and life. These three realms, the basis of the Gaul’s central myth, are at odds with each other, yet, it is a harmonious struggle, much like the Eastern concept of yin and yang.
Bousquet’s approach is heavily academic, but he is not afraid to escape those bounds. He admits it is difficult to delve into an ancient culture’s mindset via artifacts and contemporary writings from outside the Gaul’s culture, but he presents credible arguments based on the information at hand. He ultimately purports that we can reclaim an ancient past and concludes his work with the compelling statement:
Few pagan books on the market delve as deeply into the subject of spiritual philosophy as does Bousquet. While not a fan of long philosophical treatises (501 pages), I often said "Enough!" and wanted to put the book down, but Bousquet kept my interest piqued. I only wish there would have been chapter summaries since there is much to digest. However, since having read The World of the Gauls, my pagan/spiritual understanding has deepened considerably.
Bousquet holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Grenoble III in France and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies from Fujen Catholic University in Taiwan.
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| Yocum Call Number BL900 .B687 2018 |
For those with an interest in classical philosophy and ancient pagan beliefs, Antón Bousquet’s The World of the Gauls: Foundation(s) of a Celtic Philosophy offers a unique interpretation of a somewhat forgotten past, upon which we can build a promising future.
The ancient Gauls left us no written records, but the past reveals many relics that tell their story, especially the highly detailed Gundestrup cauldron (ca. 150 to 1B.C.) that reveals much of their religious beliefs. This artifact serves the foundation for much of Bousquet’s arguments. He also supports his discourse with comparative linguistics, ancient Greek, Roman and Gallo-Roman literature, and the philosophies of Heraclitus and Heidegger.
With this strong support, Bousquet discusses at length the foundation for the Gaul’s spiritual/philosophical world view, which is divided into a tripartite whole. The first realm is the Dubnos, the dark deep earth from which all life arises and returns, a place ruled by the chthonic horned god Cernunnos. Above this realm is the Albios, the bright light of the metaphysical sky, ruled by three beings: Taranis, god of thunder, Lugus, the sun god, and the celestial goddess, Rigani. In between these two realms is the Bitu, the abode of Teutates, god of the people, blood and life. These three realms, the basis of the Gaul’s central myth, are at odds with each other, yet, it is a harmonious struggle, much like the Eastern concept of yin and yang.
Bousquet’s approach is heavily academic, but he is not afraid to escape those bounds. He admits it is difficult to delve into an ancient culture’s mindset via artifacts and contemporary writings from outside the Gaul’s culture, but he presents credible arguments based on the information at hand. He ultimately purports that we can reclaim an ancient past and concludes his work with the compelling statement:
“The World of the Gauls, however, is not man’s destination, but only a milestone. It leads him to dis-covery[sic] of the first gods, but once he has become acquainted with these gods, he must leave them behind to continue his progress on the path. He will need to pass by other milestones before his journey ends, but if he perseveres, he may one day be worthy to let himself be approached by the last god” (467).
Few pagan books on the market delve as deeply into the subject of spiritual philosophy as does Bousquet. While not a fan of long philosophical treatises (501 pages), I often said "Enough!" and wanted to put the book down, but Bousquet kept my interest piqued. I only wish there would have been chapter summaries since there is much to digest. However, since having read The World of the Gauls, my pagan/spiritual understanding has deepened considerably.
Bousquet holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Grenoble III in France and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies from Fujen Catholic University in Taiwan.
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