TY - JOUR AU - Tampoia, Francesco PY - 2020/04/28 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - The Origin of Europe and the Esprit de Géométrie (Europe: Origin, Philosophy, Geometry and Proclus) JF - Cosmos and History: The Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy JA - Cosmos and History VL - 16 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://cosmosandhistory.org/index.php/journal/article/view/748 SP - 177-190 AB - <p>In searching for the origin of Europe and the cultural region/continent that we call "Europe", at first  glance we have to consider at least a double view: on the one hand the geographical understanding which indicates a region or a continent; on the other  a certain form of identity and culture described and defined as European. Rodolphe Gasché taking hint from Husserl's passage ‘Europe is not to be construed simply as a geographical and political entity' states that a rigorous engagement with what we understand by "Europe" requires that we acknowledge it as involving ‘something else as well'.</p> <p>With regard to the many bequests of Europe, founded in ancient Greece, in this essay I will attempt to elucidate some essential features of its cultural identity such as s<em>cience</em> and <em>philosophy</em>, and reflect upon several specific aspects: on the origin of Europe, on its roots and heritage, on the concept of culture, and especially on the foundation of sciences (Geometry), which contains a large part of European spirit and civilization. In particular I will address some European historical moments referring to Husserl, Heidegger, the concept of<em> Thaumazein</em>... In the second part of the essay, I shift to Ancient Greece to access the value of the <em>E</em><em>sprit de géométrie</em> as defined in <em>Proclus </em>on the <em>Commentary on the First Book of Euclid's</em>.</p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false IT X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:108.0pt; line-height:120%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:EN-US;}</style> <![endif]--> ER -