Hermetic Philosophy & Western Esotericism: A Conversation With Prof. Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff

Feb 15, 2026

In this discussion, we dive into the history of hermetic philosophy and other related topics with Prof. Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff. As a renowned scholar and Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, Dr. Hanegraaff is a leading expert in Western esotericism – focusing on topics such as the New Age movement, Hermeticism, Renaissance Platonism, and the history of rejected knowledge…

This episode covers:

• How Western culture interprets esotericism.

• Why studying God is so difficult to do in the realm of academia. 

• What hermetic literature is, and what they say about the true nature of reality. 

Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff was trained in cultural history and religious studies at the University of Utrecht, where he earned his Ph.D. cum laude in 1995 in New Age Religion and Western Culture. A former president of both the Dutch Society for the Study of Religion and the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism, he has been a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2006.

To learn more about Dr. Hanegraaff and his writings, you can visit his website.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C 

Keep up with Dr. Wouter Hanegraaff socials here:

X: https://x.com/WJHanegraaff 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wjhanegraaff/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wouterhanegraaff/?hl=en 

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 Esotericism in Western Culture: Counter-Normativity and Rejected Knowledge – An insightful exploration of how esoteric traditions developed in Western culture and why certain forms of knowledge were marginalized or rejected.
👉 Get it here

📘 Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides for the Perplexed Book 380) – A clear and structured introduction to the ideas, traditions, and thinkers that shaped Western esoteric philosophy.
👉 Check it out

📙 The Hermetica: The Lost Wisdom of the Pharaohs – A fascinating look into ancient Hermetic texts, revealing timeless spiritual and philosophical teachings rooted in Egyptian tradition.
👉 Explore it here

📕 Hermeticism and the Renaissance: Intellectual History and the Occult in Early Modern Europe – A deep historical study of how Hermetic thought influenced Renaissance philosophy, science, and culture.
👉 Discover it here

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