glossary of terms used by frithjof schuon - Sophia Perennis

eautiful, the noble; “beauty is the splendor of the true.” [THC, Intelligence and
Character]
The Intellect – that kind of static Revelation, permanent in principle and “supernaturally
natural” – is not opposed to any possible expression of the Real; it is situated beyond
sentiment, imagination, memory and reason, but it can at the same time enlighten and
determine all of these since they are like its individualized ramifications, ordained as
receptacles to receive the light from on high and to translate it according to their
respective capacities. The positive quintessence of sentiment is love; and love, to the
extent that it transcends itself in the direction of its supernatural source, is the love of
man for God and of God for man, and finally it is Beatitude without origin and without
end. [TM, Reflections on Ideological Sentimentalism]
Sentiment / Sentimentality / Sentimentalism: It is important not to confuse the notions
of sentiment, sentimentality and sentimentalism, as is too often done as the result of
either a rationalistic or an intellectualistic prejudice. The second case, moreover, is more
surprising than the first, for if the reason is in a certain sense opposed to sentiment, the
intellect remains neutral in this regard, just as light remains neutral with regard to colors;
we intentionally say “intellectualistic” and not “intellectual” for intellectuality cannot
admit of prejudice.
That a sentiment which is opposed to a truth is not worthy of esteem, everyone will agree,
and this is the very definition of sentimentalism. When one justifiably reproaches an
attitude for being sentimental, this can only mean one thing, namely that the attitude in
question contradicts a rational attitude and usurps its place; and it must be borne in mind
that an attitude can be positively rational only when it is based either on intellectual
knowledge or simply on adequate information regarding a real situation. An attitude
cannot be termed rational just because it makes use of logic, inasmuch as it is possible to
reason in the absence of the necessary data.
Just as intellectuality signifies on the one hand the nature of what is intellectual and on
the other a tendency towards the intellect, so sentimentality signifies both the nature of
what is sentimental and a tendency towards sentiment; as for sentimentalism, it
systematizes an excess of sentimentality to the detriment of the normal perception of
things: denominational and political fanaticisms are in this category. If we draw attention
to these distinctions which in themselves are obvious, it is solely because of the frequent
confusions which we observe in this domain – we are certainly not alone in so doing –
and which run the risk of falsifying the notions of intellectuality and spirituality. [EPW,
The Nature and Role of Sentiment]
Sentimental / Intellectual: The trivialization of certain terms obliges us to specify that
we use the words “sentimental” and “intellectual” in their proper and neutral meaning,
without applying to “sentimental” the pejorative and to “intellectual” the profane and
banal nuances that conventional language lends them. “Sentimental” is that which
pertains to sentiment, whether base or lofty, stupid or intelligent, worldly or sacral;
“intellectual” is that which pertains to the intellect, whether doctrinal or methodical,
discriminating or contemplative. Thus the term “intellectual” does not have the same
ambivalence as the term “sentimental”, for the simple reason that sentiment is a
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