Ancient Science of Metaphysics

Philosophy and the ancient science of metaphysics

Philosophy

The study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language is the current description for the study of Philosophy. In ancient times, philosophy was the father of all the modern sciences. In trying to understand the human experience the great philosophers examined all manner of things from physics and mathematics to theology and the divine experience.

plato
Plato

Without the enquiring mind of the philosopher and their ‘love of wisdom’, the question of ‘Why did that happen?’ would never have been asked, and the field of science and scientific enquiry would never have begun. It is the philosophers who must guide scientific enquiry to make sure it stays ‘on-track’.

The area of ethical practice in scientific enquiry is of paramount importance because sometimes scientist can lose sight of the forest because they are focusing on a tree. Philosophers try to keep a vision of the ‘big picture’.

The western culture philosophers include; Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Socrates, Machiavelli, Newton, Einstein and hundreds more.

The eastern culture philosophers include; Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, Lao Tzu, Confucius, Umaswati, Vasubandhu, Ghandi and hundreds more.

Every theological system or religion has a philosopher to thank for their beliefs.

Metaphysics

This is a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality and what is beyond the physical. According to Aristotle, there is a need for “a science that studies things (if indeed there are any) that are eternal, not subject to change, and independent of matter. Such a science, he says, is theology, and this is the “first” and “highest” science.” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Aristotle referred to Metaphysics “as ‘first philosophy’, or ‘the study of being qua being’, or ‘wisdom’, or ‘theology’.” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) The ‘being qua being’ is interpreted as involving “three things: (1) a study, (2) a subject matter (being), and (3) a manner in which the subject matter is studied (qua being).” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

So, for me, metaphysics is the first philosophy in the study of the gaining of wisdom in understanding the divine nature of things. It necessitates an awareness of the expression of the divine within the mundane using guidance from ‘Hermes Trismegistus’ and the ‘Emerald Tablet’.

A translation of the Emerald Tablet can be found in Theatrum Chemicum, Volume IV (1613), in Georg Beatus’ Aureliae Occultae Philosophorum:[9][10]

  1. This is true and remote from all cover of falsehood
  2. Whatever is below is similar to that which is above. Through this the marvels of the work of one thing are procured and perfected.
  3. Also, as all things are made from one, by the [consideration] of one, so all things were made from this one, by conjunction.
  4. The father of it is the sun, the mother the moon. The wind bore it in the womb. Its nurse is the earth, the mother of all perfection.
  5. Its power is perfected. If it is turned into earth.
  6. Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle and thin from the crude and [coarse], prudently, with modesty and wisdom.
  7. This ascends from the earth into the sky and again descends from the sky to the earth, and receives the power and efficacy of things above and of things below.
  8. By this means you will acquire the glory of the whole world,
  9. And so you will drive away all shadows and blindness.
  10. For this by its fortitude snatches the palm from all other fortitude and power. For it is able to penetrate and subdue everything subtle and everything crude and hard.
  11. By this means the world was founded
  12. And hence the marvelous conjunctions of it and admirable effects, since this is the way by which these marvels may be brought about.
  13. And because of this they have called me Hermes Tristmegistus since I have the three parts of the wisdom and philosophy of the whole universe.
  14. My speech is finished which I have spoken concerning the solar work
hermes
Hermes Trismegistrus

“For there can be no Religion more true or just, than to know the things that are; and to acknowledge thanks for all things, to Him that made them, which thing I shall not cease continually to do.” Stanza 2, Hermes Trisgestimus Book 1, Divine Pymander.