The art of love : A study of Dag Hammarskjöld's mystical theology

Sammanfattning: This thesis investigates the roots of Hammarskjöld's interest in Mystical Theology bytracing both Vägmärken and the Public Papers of the Secretaries-General (1953-1961)back to the original text material found in Hammarskjöld's private libraries, at theKungliga Biblioteket in Stockholm, and at his Cottage in Backåkra, Skåne. The first partof the thesis seeks to illustrate the principle concepts of Mystical Theology by recourseto the Mystical theologian Jean Gerson, and those writers on Mystical Theology whowere available to Hammarskjöld during his formative years. Chapter Three followsHammarskjöld's life in a biographical fashion interspersing in the chronology an analysisof significant figures in his life. As the investigation moves further a number of authorsfrom Hammarskjöld's library are considered in the light of Hammarskjöld's interests inthe arts, Mystical Theology and political life. A debate is held as to at what pointMysticism and poetry overlap - and where this phenomenon may be seen inHammarskjöld to be unified. In a further chapter the thesis also contains a comparativeanalysis of Vägmärken in the light of the Mystical theologians with whom Hammarskjöldcredited a good deal of his inspiration. This chapter seeks to introduce the reader to thedepth of Hammarskjöld's knowledge of Mystical Theology, and the need for furtherresearch to be conducted expanding what we now can interpret from the pages ofHammarskjöld's writings. In the sixth chapter, the writings of Jacques Maritain are used asan important lynch-pin in the study of what implications Hammarskjöld's understandingof Mystical Theology had on his being a man holding a position of internationalimportance in a world government organization. The final summary is an evaluation as towhat can be perceived to be Hammarskjöld's legacy in Mystical Theology - theimportance of the unitive aspect of love.