The Noetic “Russian Dolls” to Hermeticism: Western Esoterism, within Esoteric Christianity, within Neoplatonism, within Hermeticism
Open Journal of Philosophy January 1, 2024 Craig Matheson
Hermeticism, a theistic philosophy from ancient Greece, laid the intellectual foundation for later hybrid systems of thought including Neoplatonism, Esoteric Christianity, and Western Esotericism. The report argues that core Hermetic tenets have been philosophically encoded within these movements, each functioning like a "Russian Doll" that revolves around central Hermetic ideas. Through analysis of historical figures such as Socrates, Plato, Plotinus, Marsilio Ficino, and others, the report contends that Hermeticism has played an enduring psychological and symbolic role, with the Hermetic Caduceus now serving as a global symbol for public health.