Global Awareness and the Theosophical Society 1875-1950

This thesis explores how the early Theosophical Society (1875–1891) articulated a sense of global awareness through key concepts that were deeply embedded in the historical and intellectual climate of the period. By examining the origins and evolution of foundational ideas such as universal brotherhood, universal history, internationalism, nationalism, and cosmopolitanism, the study provides a valuable framework for understanding the Society’s broader historical relationships and intellectual development. It argues that these concepts played a critical role in shaping the Society’s engagement with global ideas and should be understood within the larger context of late 19th- and early 20th-century debates on global awareness.

Drawing on insights from global history, the thesis situates the Theosophical Society’s conceptual development within the broader historical current of global thought. It demonstrates that early Theosophical ideas, particularly those of Helena P. Blavatsky, were not isolated but were actively engaged with the intellectual discourses of the time. Blavatsky’s writings and ideological project are analyzed in relation to other historical figures who held varying views on internationalism, revealing how she used history as a tool to promote her vision of a universal, interconnected humanity. In doing so, Blavatsky grappled with profound questions about the nature of universal history and the meaning of internationalism.

The thesis extends its analysis beyond the early period, tracing the impact of Theosophical ideas from 1900 to 1950. It identifies intellectual and institutional connections between Theosophy and prominent thinkers such as H.G. Wells and Arnold Toynbee, as well as links to organizations like the League of Nations. Through these connections, the study shows how Theosophical thought influenced, and was influenced by, global intellectual currents during this time. Additionally, a third phase is examined, in which Blavatsky's ideas are theoretically linked to global history under the concept of ‘the promise of global history.’ This notion emphasizes the forward-looking aspect of Theosophy, suggesting that its engagement with global ideas carried significant implications for the development of modern global consciousness.

By tracing these intellectual trajectories, the study not only sheds light on internal shifts within the Theosophical Society but also reveals how the Society both contributed to and diverged from broader movements in global thought. It argues that the Society’s interactions with these movements highlight the dynamic relationship between Theosophical ideas and the global intellectual landscape of the time.

Finally, the study underscores the significant distinctions between the early Theosophical Society and its later 20th-century iterations, highlighting the changes in both ideology and practice over time. It contends that these shifts, along with the evolving discourse of global awareness, have often been overlooked due to a lack of attention to the global dimensions of the Society’s early history. By re-examining this period from a global historical perspective, the thesis contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the Theosophical Society’s role in the intellectual history of global ideas.