Jean Hani | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1917 (1917) |
| Died | 30 September 2012(2012-09-30) (aged 94–95) |
| Occupations | Philosopher, scholar |
| Academic work | |
| Main interests | Metaphysics,Esotericism,Symbolism,Mythology,Greek Philosophy,Christianity,Religious texts,Comparative religion |
| Notable ideas | Christian mysticism and symbolism; critique of modernity |
Jean Hani (1917-September 20, 2012) was a French philosopher andTraditionalist author, and a professor of Greek civilization and literature at theUniversity of Amiens.
Very little is known about Jean Hani's personal life other than his year of birth.Jean Borella's mention of the author's modesty and his older age "studious retirement" seem to agree with this scarcity of information.[1]
Born in 1917, Hani proved a bright secondary student, pursuing his university studies in Classical Literature, and finally obtaining a doctorate with a dissertation about the influence ofEgyptian religion on the thought ofPlutarch.[2] Appointed a lecturer at theUniversity of Amiens, he founded the Centre de Recherches sur l'Antiquité Classique, and he led for many years a Séminar of History of Greek religion.[1] After his retirement, in addition to his prolific activity as an author ofTraditional works, he became a frequent collaborator of journals likeConnaissance des Religions andVers la tradition. Hani has been praised for his studies on Christian symbolism, particularly on the mass[3] and the esoterism of Christian architecture.[1][4]
Three kinds of works may be discerned within Hani's production: works of Classical philology, works dealing with history of religions and works dealing with traditional and sacred symbolism. The first group is represented by his annotated translations ofPlutarch, published partly within the well-knownCollection Budé.[5] The second group is represented by his doctoral dissertation mentioned above.[2] And the third group includes works likeLe Symbolisme du temple chrétien (1962),Les Métiers de Dieu (1975),La Divine liturgie (1981) andLa Royauté sacrée (1984)[6] where his mastery of traditional hermeneutics and exegesis is firmly established. These books have been translated into English and several other European languages.[6]
According toJean Borella,[1] the principles expounded inLe Symbolisme du temple chrétien have already been put into practice in the establishment of some contemporary monastic foundations.[example needed] Borella also considers Hani to be the first author in academia to successfully marryGuénon's insights to the contemporary study of Hellenistic religions and Christianity.[1]
