So you are looking for books on metaphysics and you let your fingers do the walking in the Yellow Pages for a bookstore. Surprise! Surprise!! You are astounded to see that there are quite a few metaphysical bookstores in the Yellow Pages. Obviously, you were under the false impression that only a few philosophers apart from Aristotelians and Thomists were interested in the complexities of being, existence, essence, substance, form and such things. Now they have bookstores that specialize in it. You jump on your bicycle and ride down to the nearest metaphysical bookstore.
You open the door and go in to the welcoming jingle of the wind chime hung on the doorframe. Immediately you are struck by the pungent aroma of jasmine, sandalwood and joss sticks. You think you are in a Hindu temple or an East Indian mini-mart. Your eyes itch and your asthma starts acting up and your reach for your inhaler. After your eyes stop tearing and you become more accustomed to the surroundings. A bunch of lucky charms magically materialize from the haze and you accidentally bump into a brass pentagram hanging from the ceiling.
You see a sign indicating the aromatherapy section. That must have been what caused your asthma episode. You wander through the store. There are books on Feng Shui, the occult, Zen, homeopathy, Transcendental Meditation, Reiki, urine therapy, bowel cleansing, tarot, alien abduction, fairies and unicorns. Must be the wrong bookstore or it got bought out by some crackpot hippie and has not got around to changing the sign.
“Where is your philosophy section?” you ask.
“It’s all philosophy. Anything specific?” says the shaggy haired weirdo at the counter.
“Anything on metaphysics?”
“All these are metaphysical books. This is a metaphysical bookstore. Any authors come to mind?”
“Edmund Husserel or Martin Heidegger?
“Who are they?”
“Phenomenologist”
“Don’t know “em.”
You wander a while trying to unearth a book that might qualify as philosophy. You just do not want this to be a wasted trip. Soon you spot a sign saying quantum physics. Imagine books on quantum physics in this “metaphysical” bookstore.
So you take a look at what they have in the way of quantum physics. You spot The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav, The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra and Space time and Beyond by Bob Toben and Alan Wolf. You soon realize the books have little to do with real science. Gary Zukav thinks that electrons can think. You know that is nonsense. Eugen Merzbacher, Dirac nor even Feynman makes their way onto these bookshelves.
You pick up Space Time and Beyond which is claimed by the authors to be a classical work on new physics. The adage that you cannot judge a book by its cover definitely does not apply to this book. Right on the cover it has a bunch of gobbledygookish sayings. “Beyond space time is within us”. “There is life in everything”. “Consciousness is the origin of space-time”. “We are intimately connected to every part of the universe”. “Matter, energy, space are the same thing”. “The interpenetration of the universe has begun”. Pseudophilosophy and pseudoscience all rolled into one pocketbook.
Anyone noticed recently the plethora of experts on metaphysics and quantum physics making the talk show circuit? Deepak Chopra, Shirley Maclaine, Gary Zukav, Silvia Brown and other self help New Age mavens are always willing to educate us, mere mundane mortals, on the intricacies of metaphysics and quantum physics and related discoveries.
They would have us believe quantum physics is proof of a whole range of New Age technologies. Mind reading, aural readings, ESP, mind control, meditation, astral projection, crystal therapy, channeling, astrology, shamanism, telepathy, telekinesis, pyramid power—you name it, it is proved by quantum physics. Accepting this puts you in touch with your higher self and one with the ascension masters. New Agers accept this as metaphysics.
Metaphysics and quantum physics are among the most abused words in our language today. Big long words or those that sound scientific or esoteric are quickly assimilated into the vocabulary of the kooks, quacks, frauds and hoaxters of the New Age movement to give it an aura of mystery or legitimacy. How is it that those least in touch with reality know the most about metaphysics and the least scientifically literate the most about quantum physics? Metaphysics is branch of philosophy concerning the study of the nature of reality and its constituents. Quantum physics, or more accurately quantum electrodynamics (QED) is a branch of physics which studies particles and their behavior.
Of course, you would have to accept that reality exists before you can get on with exploring metaphysics. If you do not believe reality exists apart from yourself you have no use for metaphysics. Try mysticism instead; it works better with your philosophical system. Now, if you believe that this life is a dream or reality is all in your mind or some other view better described as psychobabble, you really don’t have a good grip on reality—never mind metaphysics.
It is the same with QED. If you could not pass a high school calculus or physics course because it would tax your brain you should not start dabbling in QED. Likewise if you have no need for the hard sciences because they are too rational/logical/mathematical/scientific (your choice) you have no business venturing a quantum physical answer to any question. You need a firm grounding in physics and mathematics before you can start studying particle physics.
The whole New Age movement is merely a form of paganism based on eastern mysticism repackaged for western consumption. Everything has consciousness and everything is conscious. Everything is in one and one in everything. What is not understandable is the New Agers’ ability to hold contradictory theories, opinions and ideas which are irreconcilable with each other and with reality.
Imagine you are walking down the street and you see a semi coming right at you. Now do you,
a) Start your mind control sequence: Concentrate very hard using quantum physical vibrations and mind control to create a force shield surrounding you that will stop the semi in its tracks;
b) Use your mind’s quantum physical powers to make the semi disappear from reality;
c) Run, putting as much distance between the path of the oncoming semi and yourself.
If you chose the first two options you should be giving Oprah Winfrey a phone call asking her to make you a famous metaphysician or a quantum physician. That is only if you survive. She has a knack for making any lunatic or charlatan appearing on her show famous.
P.S. Some of the readers would be wondering what urine therapy is. Well, you have to consume your urine to help expel the impurities from your bladder. Makes sense? The former Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai, was one of this natural therapy’s strongest proponents.
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