Surplus of Meaning

Lars Albinus

ISBN 10: 8775974487 / ISBN 13: 9788775974481

Published by Aarhus University Press, DK, 2025

About this Item

The concept of symbolism makes an obvious topic for a history of ideas, and from this perspective, the book aims to fill a gap between a study of symbols, on the one hand, and influential theories on the general concept of symbolism, on the other. _x000D__x000D_I develop a fourfold differentiation of what I call symbolicity, distinguishing between symbols that refer to something other than themselves (Sr), symbols that participate ontologically in what they represent (Sp), symbols that are conventionally determined as cultural tokens (Sc), and finally symbols that have a basis in immediate experience (Si). _x000D__x000D_The work concentrates on material aspects of symbolism, choosing the esoteric universe of alchemy and the religious adoration of statues as case studies. The main argument is that our human encounter with the world is bound to create a surplus of meaning. In this respect an opposition between regarding symbolism as primed by the mind and symbolism as affected by something 'more' has haunted human thinking up to this day. My aim is to create an analytical and philosophical framework for getting beyond such distinction.

Seller Inventory # LU-9788775974481

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Surplus of Meaning
• Publisher: Aarhus University Press, DK
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8775974487
• ISBN 13: 9788775974481
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The concept of symbolism makes an obvious topic for a history of ideas, and from this perspective Lars Albinus, Associate Professor at the Department of the Study of Religion at Aarhus University, aims to fill a gap between a study of symbols, on the one hand, and influential theories on the general concept of symbolism, on the other. The book develops a fourfold differentiation of symbolicity. The focus is on material aspects of symbolism exemplified by the esoteric universe of alchemy and the religious adoration of statues. The path leads from The Philosophers’ Stone to various iconic and aniconic representations of the divine and ends with the ambivalent depth of The Thing. Albinus’ thesis is that our human encounter with the world is bound to create a surplus of meaning. In this respect, a theoretical divide between regarding symbolism as primed by the mind or as affected externally by something ‘more’ has haunted scholarly thinking up to this day. With this book Albinus proposes a position in between.