The Basic Aztec Thought and Culture Source

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	• Aztec Thought and Culture: A Study of the Ancient Nahuatl Mind (Civilization of the American Indian Series) Miguel Leon-Portilla University of Oklahoma Press, 1990 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 13 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

not for the mere brushing up....

...of aztec history. this book is very complex and very intriguing at the same time. portilla offers an extensive background and the significance of the creation myth of the aztecs and their history through the use of histories that were taken from the priest who interviewed key priest/teachers in the aztec culture. portilla takes the information that is known through the written and oral history of what is left of this amazing civilization and puts it into a book for people who know enough to understand the basics and the deeper aspects of the nahuac philosophy. this book is very complex, however, is very enlightening if you take the time to understand what is being said.

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An important book, but has its limitations

Leon-Portilla successfully demonstrates that there was a class of professional intellectuals in Nahua society appropriately described as "philosophers" (the tlamatinime), and sketches in broad terms the parameters of their thought.

I felt, however, that this book is in effect only half of the book that should have been written, because of the way Leon-Portilla undervalues Nahua theology. His monotheizing reduction of the Nahua pantheon means that he removes the content of Nahua thought and leaves only the form, if that. It does not seem to occur to him that theological structures can provide the basis for philosophical reflection; instead, he assumes that philosophy and theology must be in opposition. This is clearly a projection of philosophy's situation in the Christian and Muslim world, but Leon-Portilla offers no evidence that a similar tension existed in Nahua society. This inability to question his own presuppositions is a serious defect in an otherwise bold, important book which does make a real contribution to the project of expanding the boundaries of philosophy beyond the European tradition. I'm rating it slightly higher than I otherwise might, because the effort to do this sort of thing is not made often enough.

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But then, I dislike philosophy

This book is not horribly difficult to read, providing a line by line commentary on Nahuatl philosophy-poetry. However, if you're looking for an easy to read, general overview of the philosophy, I do not recommend Aztec Thought and Culture. It simply gets too detailed too fast.

The Basic Aztec Thought and Culture Source

Miguel Leon-Portilla is acknowledged as a basic source for Aztec thought and beliefs. He writes with clarity and knowledge about how the Aztec looked at the world. Read this book to get a balance to the common knowledge about Aztec sacrifices. They had a developed philosophy and much to say about how to live in the world. It is time to read about some of the more "positive" aspects of this culture and this book introduces them.An anitdote to the judging Western culture bias.

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philosophically inspiring

These Aztec poems and narratives reveal deep questions about the nature of humans and the universe itself.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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