The Key to Enlightenment: John Toland’s “Clidophorus” and His Grand Theory of the Esoteric and Exoteric Doctrines

Maciej B. Stępień

doi:10.18290/rkult20112-4

Maciej B. Stępień https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3062-2890

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rkult20112-4

Keywords: Western esotericism, John Toland, freemasonry, Enlightenment philosophy, illuminism

Abstract

“Clidophorus” (from Gr. κλειδόφορος “The Bearer of the Key”) was John Toland’s treatise (1720) on the history of exoteric and esoteric philosophy. He extensively argued in support of the thesis that the entire philosophical heritage of ancient philosophers of all cultures was but a façade purposely devised by them to protect and hide a deeper, ‘esoteric doctrine’ from the general public. The author of “Clidophorus,” while undermining validity of the then known philosophical heritage, has totally won over the 18^th-century standard understanding of that which is ‘esoteric’ and ‘exoteric’, especially within the Masonic movement. He also likely influenced the emergence of the related nouns (esotericism, l’esoterisme, Esoterismus). “Clidophorus” is Toland’s outstanding contribution to the two-fold profile, clearly visible in the general climate of opinion of the Enlightenment era: one rational, progressive, lay, reformist, and highly educated, the other completely entranced by every charlatan’s promise of initiation into supposedly ancient, esoteric truth.

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