Discourses of the Elders: The Aztec Huehuetlatolli a First English Translation

Western philosophers have long claimed that God, if such a being exists, is a personal force capable...
¥5,784 JPY
¥5,784 JPY
SKU: 9781324020585
Product Type: Books
Please hurry! Only 444 left in stock
Author: Sebastian Purcell
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: ¥5,784
10 customers are viewing this product
Discourses of the Elders: The Aztec Huehuetlatolli a First English Translation by Purcell, Sebastian

Discourses of the Elders: The Aztec Huehuetlatolli a First English Translation

¥5,784

Discourses of the Elders: The Aztec Huehuetlatolli a First English Translation

¥5,784
Author: Sebastian Purcell
Format: Hardcover
Language: English

Western philosophers have long claimed that God, if such a being exists, is a personal force capable of reason, and that the path to a good human life is also the path to a happy one. But what if these claims prove false, or at least deeply misleading? The Aztecs of central Mexico had a rich philosophical tradition, recorded in Latin script by Spanish clergymen and passed down for centuries in the native Nahuatl language--one of the earliest transcripts being the Huehuetlatolli, or Discourses of the Elders, compiled by Friar Andrés de Olmos circa 1535.

Novel in its form, the Discourses consists of short conversations between elders and young people on how to achieve a meaningful and morally sound life. The Aztecs had a metaphysical tradition but no concept of "being." They considered the mind an embodied force, present not just in the brain but throughout the body. Their core values relied on collective responsibility and group wisdom, not individual thought and action, orienting life around one's actions in this realm rather than an afterlife, distinctly opposed to the Christian beliefs that permeate Europe and America.

Sebastian Purcell's fluency in his grandmother's native Nahuatl brings to light the Aztec ethical landscape in brilliant clarity. Never before translated into English in its entirety, and one of the earliest post-contact texts ever recorded, Discourses of the Elders reflects the wisdom communicated by oral tradition and proves that philosophy can be active, communal, and grounded not in a "pursuit of happiness" but rather the pursuit of a meaningful life.



Author: Sebastian Purcell
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 08/29/2023
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.89lbs
Size: 8.57h x 5.84w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781324020585


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 03/01/2023 pg. 22
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2023

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Related Products

Recently Viewed Products