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Exploraciones: Hombres y Problemas
A medida que vaya avanzando en su lectura no resultará difícil al lector vislumbrar el hilo que entreteje la presente recopilación de artículos, a primera vista muy dispares, que vio la luz en 1974, año que será también el del fallecimiento de su autor. Pero antes de comenzar su lectura, tanto título como índice le habrán permitido constatar que esta obra no constituye, como lo han sido otros de sus libros, un ensayo pormenorizado dedicado a una determinada doctrina tradicional o una exposición relativa a la actitud existencial a adoptar ante un mundo cuya trama se va disgregando con el transcurso del tiempo. Porque, en efecto, estas exploraciones, estos reconocimientos en territorios en parte enemigos, en parte amigos y en parte grises -zonas intermedias-, prestas a ser ocupadas por unos u otros, son en verdad admoniciones, planteamientos de ideas, sugerencias de caminos a tomar o tentativas de prevenir extravíos a quienes han ido a solicitar guía y consejo a su autor. Son, en definitiva, pues así lo muestran con claridad tonos y contenidos, escritos seleccionados o redactados muy especialmente para creyentes –por emplear un término bastante inadecuado–unos creyentes, además en pleno combate o en vísperas de entrar en él.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
15 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Julius Evola
211 books1,040 followersJulius Evola, born Giulio Cesare Andrea Evola, was an Italian philosopher and esoteric scholar. Born in Rome to a family of the Sicilian landed gentry, Evola was raised a strict Catholic. Despite this, his life was characterised by 'an anti-bourgeois approach' hostile to both 'the dominant tradition of the West—Christianity and Catholicism—and to contemporary civilization—the 'modern world' of democracy and materialism'.
By turns 'engineering student, artillery officer, Dadaist poet and painter, journalist, alpinist, scholar, linguist, Orientalist, and political commentator', he has been described as a 'rare example of universality in an age of specialization'. Yet behind it all lay a singular emphasis on, and pursuit of, a 'direct relationship to the Absolute'. For Evola, 'the center of all things was not man, but rather the Transcendent.' This metaphysical conviction can be seen to have determined both Evola's stance on socio-political issues, and his antipathetic attitude towards 'all professional, sentimental and family routines'.
The author of many books on esoteric, political and religious topics (including The Hermetic Tradition, The Doctrine of Awakening and Eros and the Mysteries of Love), his best-known work remains Revolt Against the Modern World, a trenchant critique of modern civilisation that has been described as 'the gateway to his thought'. Since his death, also in Rome, his writings have influenced right-wing, reactionary and conservative political thought not only in his native Italy, but throughout continental Europe and, increasingly, the English-speaking world. Nevertheless, he should not be considered primarily as a political thinker, but rather as an exponent of the wider Traditionalist School that encompasses the work of such individuals as René Guénon, Titus Burckhardt and Frithjof Schuon.
By turns 'engineering student, artillery officer, Dadaist poet and painter, journalist, alpinist, scholar, linguist, Orientalist, and political commentator', he has been described as a 'rare example of universality in an age of specialization'. Yet behind it all lay a singular emphasis on, and pursuit of, a 'direct relationship to the Absolute'. For Evola, 'the center of all things was not man, but rather the Transcendent.' This metaphysical conviction can be seen to have determined both Evola's stance on socio-political issues, and his antipathetic attitude towards 'all professional, sentimental and family routines'.
The author of many books on esoteric, political and religious topics (including The Hermetic Tradition, The Doctrine of Awakening and Eros and the Mysteries of Love), his best-known work remains Revolt Against the Modern World, a trenchant critique of modern civilisation that has been described as 'the gateway to his thought'. Since his death, also in Rome, his writings have influenced right-wing, reactionary and conservative political thought not only in his native Italy, but throughout continental Europe and, increasingly, the English-speaking world. Nevertheless, he should not be considered primarily as a political thinker, but rather as an exponent of the wider Traditionalist School that encompasses the work of such individuals as René Guénon, Titus Burckhardt and Frithjof Schuon.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 12, 2025
Written towards the end of his life, a collection of essays that are direct as well as informative on the value of our heritage and birthright as well as the putrid elements opposing our very existence.
February 8, 2026
"Recognitions" by Julius Evola is a collection of 40 essays and his final book, published shortly before his death in 1974. One of the practical advantages of the format is that the essays can be read in any order, making it easy to dip into whatever subject draws your attention.
The range of topics is remarkably broad, touching on nearly every major theme Evola dealt with across his career. Some of the subjects include: the doctrine of the four castes, the left-hand path, magic, political reflections on the modern right, Masonry, Mithraism, the Sibylline Books, and analyses of conservative thinkers such as Joseph de Maistre and Metternich. The translator deserves particular credit here, as the footnotes are very helpful and enlightening, especially when Evola references lesser-known authors or obscure concepts that would otherwise be difficult to understand.
The first half of the book is probably the strongest. Evola is at his best when addressing modern dissolution and historical subjects, particularly his essays on ancient Rome. The essays devoted to modern thinkers, by comparison, are somewhat less interesting.
This may not be the ideal starting point for someone entirely new to Evola. However, I can wholeheartedly recommend "Recognitions" to anyone already familiar with the works of the Baron. My suggestion would be to begin with whatever topics interest you most and go from there.
The range of topics is remarkably broad, touching on nearly every major theme Evola dealt with across his career. Some of the subjects include: the doctrine of the four castes, the left-hand path, magic, political reflections on the modern right, Masonry, Mithraism, the Sibylline Books, and analyses of conservative thinkers such as Joseph de Maistre and Metternich. The translator deserves particular credit here, as the footnotes are very helpful and enlightening, especially when Evola references lesser-known authors or obscure concepts that would otherwise be difficult to understand.
The first half of the book is probably the strongest. Evola is at his best when addressing modern dissolution and historical subjects, particularly his essays on ancient Rome. The essays devoted to modern thinkers, by comparison, are somewhat less interesting.
This may not be the ideal starting point for someone entirely new to Evola. However, I can wholeheartedly recommend "Recognitions" to anyone already familiar with the works of the Baron. My suggestion would be to begin with whatever topics interest you most and go from there.
May 17, 2021
Una buona fonte di brevi saggi su società, politica e storia Mi sarebbe piaciuto però che la casa editrice avesse inserito la data per ogni scritto,in modo da contenstualizzarli e relazionarli tra loro,
July 19, 2025
As always, Evola is Cognac for the soul.
Perhaps not as insightful as his other works, but still a good collection of mostly post-WWII essays about the world as Evola saw it.
Perhaps not as insightful as his other works, but still a good collection of mostly post-WWII essays about the world as Evola saw it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews