Concept
Secret society
Overview
A secret society is an organization about which the activities, events, inner functioning, membership, and sometimes also existence, are concealed. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla warfare insurgencies, that hide their activities and memberships but maintain a public presence.
Secret societies may be community-based or associated with colleges and universities. These societies exist in countries around the world.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
Among the American Indians, this purpose is generally served by special drawings on the body; in other places, by specific tattooings as well as by the wearing of distinctive dress. The second restriction of membership on the part of the secret society is connected with the limited purpose which the society serves. The men's club includes all the interests of the clan or tribal community; the secret society is held…
Wilhelm Max Wundt, Elements of Folk Psychology Outline of a Psychological History of the Development of Mankind
States what Secret society is; names Secret society several times.
Now for forming and preserving a society, no ordinary ability and care is required: that society will be most secure, most stable, and least liable to reverses, which is founded and directed by far-seeing and careful men; while, on the other hand, a society constituted by men without trained skill, depends in a great measure on fortune, and is less constant. If, in spite of all, such a society lasts a long time, it…
Benedictus de Spinoza, The Philosophy of Spinoza
Close in meaning to Secret society; the term itself is not named.
Society supposes a self-conscious organization which is nothing other than a classification. This organization of society naturally extends itself to the place which this occupies. To avoid all collisions, it is necessary that each particular group have a determined portion of space assigned to it: in other terms, it is necessary that space in general be divided, differentiated, arranged, and…
Émile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
Close in meaning to Secret society; the term itself is not named.
Philosophers who discussed Secret society
Related ideas
- Freemasonry
- Philosophy
- Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Italy
- Internet
- Japan
- Jesuits
- University of St Andrews
- Christians
- Muslims
- Poland
- Philippines
- Princeton University
- Race (human categorization)
- University of Cambridge
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Tertiary education
- University of Oxford
- University of Chicago
- Yale University
- Malaysia
- Australia
- Rosicrucianism
- Canada
Place in the tradition
Part of Structuralism.