Gymnosophy

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about a modern philosophy. For ancient Indian philosophy known by the same name, see Gymnosophists.

Gymnosophy (from Greek γυμνός gymnós "naked" and σοφία sophía "wisdom") was a movement and a philosophy practiced in Europe and the US from the end of the 19th century to the mid 20th century. The practice involved nudity, asceticism, and meditation.

History

In the early 20th century, the term was appropriated by several groups to denote a broad philosophy that included as a central thought that the nude human body is a natural condition and should be widely acceptable for the betterment of society. This philosophy is related closely, and often interchangeably, with

nudism and naturism, and has close connection to the hippie movement.[1][2]

The movement is known by mainly three organisations: the

nudist club, but as a front for Wiccans
, as this was illegal in England until 1951. The Societe Internationale de Gymnosophie was founded in 1926 in France.

Dr. Maurice Parmelee (1882-1969), professor of sociology at the City College of New York, wrote from 1923 to 1924 a book, The New Gymnosophy,[3] the title was changed to Nudism In Modern Life in later editions.[4][5] He took part in the founding of the American Gymnosophical Association 1930.

In 1932, Rochester Gymnosophy League was founded in Bushnell's Basin.[6] In 1933 the Dunedin Gymnosophy Club was founded in New Zealand.[7] The biochemist and historian Joseph Needham was known to practice gymnosophy.[8]

In the last decade, the word gymnosophy has begun to be used as a term for a new, more spiritual and holistic, free body culture.[9]

In popular culture

A poem from the book

Non Serviam (1945) by the Swedish author Gunnar Ekelöf
is named "Gymnosofisten" ("The Gymnosophist").

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Hippie Roots & The Perennial Subculture, 2003. Archived 2016-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Kalifornication". Frieze. 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  3. ^ Parmelee, Maurice (1927). The new gymnosophy: the philosophy of nudity as applied in modern life. New York: F. H. Hitchcock.
  4. ISBN 978-1-4733-8770-6
    .
  5. ^ Parmelee, Maurice, Adventures in Many Lands an Autobiographical Memoir, New Haven, Connecticut: Unpublished manuscript, Parmalee Papers, Mnuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
  6. ^ Poray, Bill (11 August 2016). "The Naked Truth about Bushnell's Basin" (PDF). Fairport-ER Post. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  7. ^ "A Nudist Club formed in Dunedin – Police Approval?". Wellington Evening Post. 24 November 1933. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Joseph Needham and Lu Gwei-Djen". The History of Chinese Science and Culture Foundation. n.d. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  9. ^ Carr-Gomm, Philip (12 November 2007). "Gymnosophy for Beginners". Retrieved 27 August 2018.

External links

Stub icon

This philosophy-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gymnosophy&oldid=1205256885"