Universal Notions in Culture and Methodology of Traditionalism

The article examines the methodology of integral traditionalism as a tool for the analysis of myth, art, literature and the identification of universal metaphysical foundations of culture. René Guénon’s teaching is considered as one of methods of literary criticism that goes beyond philology itself. The methodological approaches of traditionalism, whiche were ahead of the structuralist turn in the humanities, allow to enrich the field of literary studies as well. The article points out its advantages and disadvantages, and compares the traditionalists’ approach with the more measured method of Mircea Eliade and his view of “mystical” and “esoteric” creativity in literature. According to traditionalism, some literary texts should be read primarily as works of a metaphysical and occult nature. This means that a purely philological approach to their analysis may be counterproductive. Traditionalists propose to go beyond literary studies and connect it not only with philosophy and religious studies, but also with theology and metaphysics. In this study, we show how René Guenon and his students interpreted the texts of Dante Alighieri, Victor Hugo, Gustav Meyrink, Hermann Hesse and others from the perspective of esotericism. At the same time, we show the limitations of this approach in the analysis of poetry and works of mass literature, where authors are guided by fashion or pure sensual inspiration.