Table of Contents
Introduction
Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove interviews Dr. Jason Reza Jorjani, philosopher and faculty member at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, discussing the philosophical significance of Atlantis. Dr. Jorjani is the author of Prometheus and Atlas, which won the 2016 Book Award from the Parapsychological Association.
Plato’s Account of Atlantis
- Source: Atlantis is described in Plato’s dialogues Timaeus and Critias.
- Historical Context: According to Plato, Atlantis flourished 9,000 years before his time.
- Origins: The story was purportedly passed down from Solon, the Athenian lawgiver, who received it from Egyptian priests.
- Geography and Culture: Atlantis was said to be governed by demigods, descendants of Poseidon, who ruled over a civilization that eventually sought dominion over the known world.
- Destruction: Atlantis was destroyed by a deluge, which Plato attributed to divine punishment from Zeus.
Philosophical Themes in Plato’s Atlantis
- Plato used the Atlantis narrative to explore ideas about the ideal society, contrasting the hubris of Atlantis with the utopian vision of pre-flood Athens.
- Atlantis symbolizes the tension between divine reverence and human self-sufficiency.
Atlantis in Modern Philosophical Thought
Francis Bacon’s The New Atlantis
- Scenario: Unlike Plato, Bacon presented Atlantis as a utopian society located in the Pacific Ocean.
- Scientific Focus: The civilization was governed by a scientific elite who curated and controlled technological innovations.
- Isolation: The society remained hidden to prevent misuse of its knowledge by the outside world.
- Worship of Achievements: Bacon described the Atlanteans as venerating inventors and scientists instead of gods, reflecting a shift from divine worship to the celebration of human intellectual and technological advancement.
- Technological Predictions: Bacon anticipated innovations such as submarines, telephone lines, and genetic engineering.
Rudolf Steiner’s Mystical Interpretation
- Theosophical Influence: Steiner described Atlantis as a society blending material technology with psychic abilities.
- Demise: Psychic abilities were misused, leading to societal collapse and environmental disasters, including floods and earthquakes.
- Human Evolution: Steiner linked the destruction of Atlantis to a cognitive shift in human consciousness, moving from image-based thinking to analytical reasoning.
Colin Wilson’s Empirical Perspective
- Archaeological Correlations: Wilson incorporated geological and archaeological evidence suggesting advanced prehistoric civilizations.
- Key Sites:
- Sphinx and Giza Complex: Alignments with celestial events dated to around 10,500 BCE.
- Ba’albek, Lebanon: Massive stone blocks and architectural anomalies indicating advanced engineering.
- Tiwanaku, Bolivia: Stellar misalignments and high-altitude port structures suggesting a different sea level.
- Human Abilities: Wilson hypothesized that psychokinesis played a role in these engineering feats.
Lessons for Modern Civilization
- Dr. Jorjani suggests that the narrative of Atlantis warns against the misuse of advanced capabilities, whether technological or psychic.
- The shift in Atlantis from divine worship to the veneration of human achievement—illustrated in Francis Bacon’s account—serves as a reflection of the hubris that can arise from self-sufficiency and technological prowess.
- The past failure to integrate human capacities into a sustainable societal framework serves as a cautionary tale for the present.
Compare the veneration of human achievements with the idol worshipped by the people of Nuh
Conclusion
Dr. Mishlove and Dr. Jorjani conclude that Atlantis serves as a focal point for philosophical inquiry into the evolution of human thought, the development of civilizations, and the ethical challenges posed by advanced capabilities.
Related Resources
- Prometheus and Atlas by Dr. Jason Reza Jorjani.
- Free download of Issue Seven of the New Thinking Allowed Magazine.
