DOCSLIB.ORG

THE IMPLICATIONS of MATERIALISM for POST MORTEM SURVIAL in LUCRETIAN and ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PHILOSOPHY a Thesis Submitted to the F

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
THE IMPLICATIONS of MATERIALISM for POST MORTEM SURVIAL in LUCRETIAN and ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PHILOSOPHY a Thesis Submitted to the F THE IMPLICATIONS OF MATERIALISM FOR POST MORTEM SURVIAL IN LUCRETIAN AND ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PHILOSOPHY A Thesis submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for A the Degree Master of Arts Philosophy by Jerome Darin Tatum San Francisco, California May 2017 Copyright by Jerome Darin Tatum 2017 THE IMPLICATIONS OF MATERIALISM FOR POST MORTEM SURVIAL IN LUCRETIAN AND ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PHILOSOPHY Jerome Darin Tatum San Francisco, California 2017 Lucretius’ belief in an atomic structure of the universe that is very similar to the view modem science holds, helped to inform his views about the lack of possibility for the survival of the soul after death. He feels that we should not worry our minds with the fear of death, because at death, the body and the soul cease to have experience. I will show that the ancient Egyptians also had an understanding of science and the mind that are similar to some contemporaries in the field. I will compare the views of Lucretius on science and the mind with that of the ancient Egyptians. Egyptian views present a powerful challenge to Lucretius' view. I will argue that the ancient Egyptians had legitimate reasons to oppose the view of Lucretius that there is absolutely no possibility for the soul or consciousness to survive the process of death. I certify that the Abstract is a correct representation of the content of this thesis. CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read A Philosophical Debate on Post Mortem Survival Between the Frameworks of Titus Lucretius and the Ancient Egyptians by Jerome Darin Tatum, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Arts in Philosophy at San Francisco State University. 'Justin Tiwald, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy Mary Rorty, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy PREFACE AND/OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Before attending San Francisco State University to study Philosophy, I was a full time student at CSU East Bay, majoring in Business and Accounting. Although I enjoyed learning the different aspects of business I realized it wasn’t the path I was supposed to stay on. Due to extenuating circumstances with my job, which resulted in me being placed on academic probation at CSU East Bay, I went through a much needed period of self reflection, coming to the conclusion that I should pick a major in school, and subsequently a career in a field that I am passionate about. Thus, I decided to change my major, and transfer to SFSU to study Philosophy and Religion. I enjoyed philosophy so much that I decided to enroll in the master’s program. While taking a course on Hellenistic philosophy with Dr. Hood I was introduced to the philosophy of Lucretius. I admired his poetry and was impressed by his understanding of physics and how it shaped his beliefs on the possibility for postmortem survival. I had long been an admirer of ancient Egyptian philosophy similarly for their understanding of the universe and how it shaped their views on postmortem survival that were opposite of Lucretius. After writing a term paper on the topic Dr. Hood graciously accepted my request to expand my term paper into a thesis and for her to be the chair of my thesis committee. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Hood for allowing me to indulge in my passion by studying this topic through the lens of these incredible philosophers that has resulted in an expansion of my understanding of both philosophies. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dr Rorty who stepped in for Dr. Hood who was absent due to medical leave for my last semester. Dr Rorty was instrumental in the completion of my thesis providing indispensable insights and her infamous talent for editing. I’d also like to express my profound gratitude to Dr. Tiwald whose suggestions for my thesis have fundamentally determined my goal for the project and my approach to achieve my goal. Last, I’d like to express an unspeakable gratitude to my mother who has grounded me spiritually, My Father who gives me unconditional love and support, my twin brother whom I bounce all of my philosophical ideas off, along with my other two brother and my family and friend but especially my beautiful wife who has been a loyal partner and my inspiration. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction.............................................................................................................................1 II. Philosophical Views of Lucretius....................................................................................... 4 Lucretian Physics.......................................................................................................... 5 The Material Soul......................................................................................................... 7 Reasons to Reject the Survival of the Soul...............................................................10 Lucretian Psychology..................................................................................................11 III. Philosophical Views of the Ancient Egyptians...............................................................12 Egyptian Cosmology...................................................................................................13 The Duat.......................................................................................................................17 Philosophical Aspect of Maat....................................................................................22 IV. Analysis of Both Philosophical Views........................................................................... 24 The Immaterial Soul.................................................................................................. 24 Response to Memory Objection............................................................................... 28 The Collective Unconscious......................................................................................31 The Near Death Experience.......................................................................................34 Response to Sudduth Critique....................................................................................37 Quantum Theory and Implications for Consciousness............................................38 First Principle of Hermeticism...................................................................................44 Benefits of Heroic Metaphysics.................................................................................46 Table of Contents Justice in the Afterlife................................................................................................ 49 V. Conclusion........................................................................................................................50 Sources......................................................................................................................................53 1 I. Introduction The answer to the question of whether there is a possibility for post mortem survival is generally based on the philosophical view of the individual answering the question. A materialist believes that all phenomena in the world can be reduced to something physical. In this view the mind or soul can be reduced to the physical body, typically the brain. Therefore when the brain dies the mind or soul ceases to exist as well. Lucretius was one of the most famous ancient philosophers to see the world through a materialist lens. He believed that since the soul was made of atoms, then it must cease to exist like all other physical things. The ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to write about the afterlife and its relevance to their religion and society. Egyptians viewed death as an opportunity to liberate the soul or consciousness from the bondage of the material world. They believed that all phenomena in the world could not be explained by merely appealing to the physical aspects of the universe. Direct correlations in the Dogon’s cosmology drawings, use of terms, and meanings of those terms reveal a close similarity to the ancient Egyptian Cosmology. By using both cultures to decode the cosmology story it can be demonstrated how they both have an understanding of the nature of reality analogous to contemporary atomic, quantum and string theory. Experiments in quantum science have revealed how fundamental consciousness is to the actual existence of the physical universe. Quantum science may actually imply the survival of consciousness beyond the process of death. Modem day scientists are beginning to conduct studies on consciousness that support the claims of past life and 2 near death experiences. This possibility should not lead to worry, but on the contrary can create optimism for a new paradigm in understanding life and consciousness. This non materialist view of the world has benefits that cannot be realized by materialists. The materialist view is deficient in the sense that there is no possibility for postmortem survival and the benefits that accompany this possibility. I will argue that the ancient Egyptians had legitimate reasons to oppose Lucretius’ view that there is absolutely no possibility for the soul or consciousness to survive the process of death. My motivation behind this project is to celebrate Lucretius for his philosophy that poetically describes a materialist view of the world. Lucretian philosophy is replete with scientific as well as psychological insights
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Study of John Leslie's Infinite Minds, a Philosophical Cosmology
    Document généré le 1 oct. 2021 09:18 Laval théologique et philosophique Infinite Minds, Determinism & Evil A Study of John Leslie’s Infinite Minds, A Philosophical Cosmology Leslie Armour La question de Dieu Volume 58, numéro 3, octobre 2002 URI : https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/000634ar DOI : https://doi.org/10.7202/000634ar Aller au sommaire du numéro Éditeur(s) Faculté de philosophie, Université Laval Faculté de théologie et de sciences religieuses, Université Laval ISSN 0023-9054 (imprimé) 1703-8804 (numérique) Découvrir la revue Citer cette note Armour, L. (2002). Infinite Minds, Determinism & Evil: A Study of John Leslie’s Infinite Minds, A Philosophical Cosmology. Laval théologique et philosophique, 58(3), 597–603. https://doi.org/10.7202/000634ar Tous droits réservés © Laval théologique et philosophique, Université Laval, Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d’auteur. L’utilisation des 2002 services d’Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d’utilisation que vous pouvez consulter en ligne. https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Cet article est diffusé et préservé par Érudit. Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l’Université de Montréal, l’Université Laval et l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. https://www.erudit.org/fr/ Laval théologique et philosophique, 58, 3 (octobre 2002) : 597-603 ◆ note critique INFINITE MINDS, DETERMINISM & EVIL A STUDY OF JOHN LESLIE’S INFINITE MINDS, A PHILOSOPHICAL COSMOLOGY * Leslie Armour The Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology Ottawa ohn Leslie’s Infinite Minds is a refreshingly daring book.
    [Show full text]
  • Science and Religion in the Face of the Environmental Crisis
    Roger S. Gottlieb, ed., The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Pages 376-397. CHAPTER 17 .................................................................................................. SCIENCE AND RELIGION IN THE FACE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS ..................................................................................................... HOLMES ROLSTON III BOTH science and religion are challenged by the environmental crisis, both to reevaluate the natural world and to reevaluate their dialogue with each other. Both are thrown into researching fundamental theory and practice in the face of an upheaval unprecedented in human history, indeed in planetary history. Life on Earth is in jeopardy owing to the behavior of one species, the only species that is either scientific or religious, the only species claiming privilege as the "wise spe- cies," Homo sapiens. Nature and the human relation to nature must be evaluated within cultures, classically by their religions, currently also by the sciences so eminent in Western culture. Ample numbers of theologians and ethicists have become persuaded that religion needs to pay more attention to ecology, and many ecologists recognize religious dimensions to caring for nature and to addressing the ecological crisis. Somewhat ironically, just when humans, with their increasing industry and technology, seemed further and further from nature, having more knowledge about natural processes and more power to manage them, just when humans were more and more rebuilding their environments, thinking perhaps to escape nature, the natural world has emerged as a focus of concern. Nature remains the milieu of 376 SCIENCE AND RELIGION 377 culture—so both science and religion have discovered. In a currently popular vocabulary, humans need to get themselves "naturalized." Using another meta- phor, nature is the "womb" of culture, but a womb that humans never entirely leave.
    [Show full text]
  • Physical Cosmology Physics 6010, Fall 2017 Lam Hui
    Physical Cosmology Physics 6010, Fall 2017 Lam Hui My coordinates. Pupin 902. Phone: 854-7241. Email: [email protected]. URL: http://www.astro.columbia.edu/∼lhui. Teaching assistant. Xinyu Li. Email: [email protected] Office hours. Wednesday 2:30 { 3:30 pm, or by appointment. Class Meeting Time/Place. Wednesday, Friday 1 - 2:30 pm (Rabi Room), Mon- day 1 - 2 pm for the first 4 weeks (TBC). Prerequisites. No permission is required if you are an Astronomy or Physics graduate student { however, it will be assumed you have a background in sta- tistical mechanics, quantum mechanics and electromagnetism at the undergrad- uate level. Knowledge of general relativity is not required. If you are an undergraduate student, you must obtain explicit permission from me. Requirements. Problem sets. The last problem set will serve as a take-home final. Topics covered. Basics of hot big bang standard model. Newtonian cosmology. Geometry and general relativity. Thermal history of the universe. Primordial nucleosynthesis. Recombination. Microwave background. Dark matter and dark energy. Spatial statistics. Inflation and structure formation. Perturba- tion theory. Large scale structure. Non-linear clustering. Galaxy formation. Intergalactic medium. Gravitational lensing. Texts. The main text is Modern Cosmology, by Scott Dodelson, Academic Press, available at Book Culture on W. 112th Street. The website is http://www.bookculture.com. Other recommended references include: • Cosmology, S. Weinberg, Oxford University Press. • http://pancake.uchicago.edu/∼carroll/notes/grtiny.ps or http://pancake.uchicago.edu/∼carroll/notes/grtinypdf.pdf is a nice quick introduction to general relativity by Sean Carroll. • A First Course in General Relativity, B.
    [Show full text]
  • Cosmic Microwave Background
    1 29. Cosmic Microwave Background 29. Cosmic Microwave Background Revised August 2019 by D. Scott (U. of British Columbia) and G.F. Smoot (HKUST; Paris U.; UC Berkeley; LBNL). 29.1 Introduction The energy content in electromagnetic radiation from beyond our Galaxy is dominated by the cosmic microwave background (CMB), discovered in 1965 [1]. The spectrum of the CMB is well described by a blackbody function with T = 2.7255 K. This spectral form is a main supporting pillar of the hot Big Bang model for the Universe. The lack of any observed deviations from a 7 blackbody spectrum constrains physical processes over cosmic history at redshifts z ∼< 10 (see earlier versions of this review). Currently the key CMB observable is the angular variation in temperature (or intensity) corre- lations, and to a growing extent polarization [2–4]. Since the first detection of these anisotropies by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite [5], there has been intense activity to map the sky at increasing levels of sensitivity and angular resolution by ground-based and balloon-borne measurements. These were joined in 2003 by the first results from NASA’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)[6], which were improved upon by analyses of data added every 2 years, culminating in the 9-year results [7]. In 2013 we had the first results [8] from the third generation CMB satellite, ESA’s Planck mission [9,10], which were enhanced by results from the 2015 Planck data release [11, 12], and then the final 2018 Planck data release [13, 14]. Additionally, CMB an- isotropies have been extended to smaller angular scales by ground-based experiments, particularly the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) [15] and the South Pole Telescope (SPT) [16].
    [Show full text]
  • 9. the Cosmic Microwave Background
    A5682: Introduction to Cosmology Course Notes 9. The Cosmic Microwave Background Reading: Chapter 8, sections 8.0-8.3. (We will cover 8.4 and 8.5 later.) “Re”combination After Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, the universe was still much too hot for the formation of neutral atoms. As expansion continued, the background radiation photons redshifted and the temperature dropped. Naively, one would expect p + e− → H when kT ∼ 13.6eV. Just as with deuterium synthesis, however, the high value of nγ/nb implies that the exponential tail of the photon distribution can dissociate hydrogen atoms. Less naively, we expect p + e− → H when kT ∼ 13.6eV/(− ln η) ∼ 0.65eV, corresponding to (1 + z) ≈ 2700. A more accurate version of this argument given in the textbook (section 9.3) yields a predicted redshift of (1 + z) ≈ 1370 for hydrogen formation. In practice, there are several complicating factors, e.g., any recombination direct to the ground state produces a photon that can immediately ionize another neutral atom unless the photon survives long enough to be redshifted below 13.6 eV. A proper, somewhat tricky calculation of cosmic recombination shows that there is a fairly rapid transition from a free electron fraction xe ≈ 1 to xe ≈ 0 at z ≈ 1100, with most of the transition occuring over a redshift range ∆z ≈ 80. In the laboratory, or in regions ionized by hot stars or quasars or shocks, the process p + e− → H is usually referred to as “recombination.” In the early universe, the protons and electrons were never in the form of hydrogen to begin with, so this process should arguably be called “combination” rather than “recombination.” But “combination” sounds rather silly, so “recombination” is still the standard term for this tran- sition.
    [Show full text]
  • Music and Environment: Registering Contemporary Convergences
    JOURNAL OF OF RESEARCH ONLINE MusicA JOURNALA JOURNALOF THE MUSIC OF MUSICAUSTRALIA COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA ■ Music and Environment: Registering Contemporary Convergences Introduction H O L L I S T A Y L O R & From the ancient Greek’s harmony of the spheres (Pont 2004) to a first millennium ANDREW HURLEY Babylonian treatise on birdsong (Lambert 1970), from the thirteenth-century round ‘Sumer Is Icumen In’ to Handel’s Water Music (Suites HWV 348–50, 1717), and ■ Faculty of Arts Macquarie University from Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony (No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, 1808) to Randy North Ryde 2109 Newman’s ‘Burn On’ (Newman 1972), musicians of all stripes have long linked ‘music’ New South Wales Australia and ‘environment’. However, this gloss fails to capture the scope of recent activity by musicians and musicologists who are engaging with topics, concepts, and issues [email protected] ■ relating to the environment. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences University of Technology Sydney Despite musicology’s historical preoccupation with autonomy, our register of musico- PO Box 123 Broadway 2007 environmental convergences indicates that the discipline is undergoing a sea change — New South Wales one underpinned in particular by the1980s and early 1990s work of New Musicologists Australia like Joseph Kerman, Susan McClary, Lawrence Kramer, and Philip Bohlman. Their [email protected] challenges to the belief that music is essentially self-referential provoked a shift in the discipline, prompting interdisciplinary partnerships to be struck and methodologies to be rethought. Much initial activity focused on the role that politics, gender, and identity play in music.
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 19 Big Bang Cosmology
    PHY100 ― The Nature of the Physical World Lecture 19 Big Bang Cosmology Arán García-Bellido PHY100 1 News Exam 2: you can do better! Presentations April 14: Great Physicist life, Controlled fusion April 19: Nuclear power, Search for ET life April 21: Music, Nuclear terrorism 2 per day 20 min+discussion/Q&A Want to meet with all groups this week Contact me PHY100 2 Cosmology Scientific study of the large scale structure of the universe Attempt to understand the origin, evolution and fate of the universe The universe: all matter, space, time and energy Remember first lecture: Tycho Brahe (1546-1601): careful observation of sun, moon, planets Johannes Kepler (1571-1630): elliptical orbits, 3 laws of planetary motion Isaac Newton (1643-1727): Universal law of gravitation + laws of motion explained Kepler's laws of planetary motion Albert Einstein (1879-1955): In an accelerated rocket ship, light would seem to travel on a curved path Gravity = accelerated frame Gravity curves space PHY100 3 Gravity bends light From outside Light is not bent because of the gravitational force 'per se' Light moves on a geodesic (=shortest distance between two points) So Einstein interprets gravitation as a curvature of spacetime Gravity warps spacetime Light just follows the curvature of space From inside PHY100 4 General Relativity: tests Bending of light by gravitational field 4 Gravitational redshift of light 4 Perihelion advance of Mercury 4 Gravitational waves ? PHY100 5 Light travels at a finite speed Object Lookback time Sun 8 minutes Alpha Centauri
    [Show full text]
  • 19. Big-Bang Cosmology 1 19
    19. Big-Bang cosmology 1 19. BIG-BANG COSMOLOGY Revised September 2009 by K.A. Olive (University of Minnesota) and J.A. Peacock (University of Edinburgh). 19.1. Introduction to Standard Big-Bang Model The observed expansion of the Universe [1,2,3] is a natural (almost inevitable) result of any homogeneous and isotropic cosmological model based on general relativity. However, by itself, the Hubble expansion does not provide sufficient evidence for what we generally refer to as the Big-Bang model of cosmology. While general relativity is in principle capable of describing the cosmology of any given distribution of matter, it is extremely fortunate that our Universe appears to be homogeneous and isotropic on large scales. Together, homogeneity and isotropy allow us to extend the Copernican Principle to the Cosmological Principle, stating that all spatial positions in the Universe are essentially equivalent. The formulation of the Big-Bang model began in the 1940s with the work of George Gamow and his collaborators, Alpher and Herman. In order to account for the possibility that the abundances of the elements had a cosmological origin, they proposed that the early Universe which was once very hot and dense (enough so as to allow for the nucleosynthetic processing of hydrogen), and has expanded and cooled to its present state [4,5]. In 1948, Alpher and Herman predicted that a direct consequence of this model is the presence of a relic background radiation with a temperature of order a few K [6,7]. Of course this radiation was observed 16 years later as the microwave background radiation [8].
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 18: Cosmology in This Chapter, We’Re Going to Cover Many of the Fundamental Questions in Astronomy
    Chapter 18: Cosmology In this chapter, we’re going to cover many of the fundamental questions in astronomy. • How did the universe begin? • What is the size, shape and geometry of the universe? • What is the fate of the universe? We’re going to see how we can answer these big questions with a few simple observations and a liberal sprinkling of scientific logic. First of all, let us ask ourselves why the sky is dark at night… Olber’s Paradox The posit of Olber’s paradox states ‘if the universe is infinite, then every line of sight towards the sky should end in a star’. This means that the sky at night should shine as brightly as the sun! We can resolve this paradox if the universe has a finite age. Therefore, light from the farthest stars has not yet reached us. The Cosmological Principle Olber’s paradox highlights the importance of the assumptions we make about the universe. We are going to make 3 basic assumptions that will apply to all our models. I. Homogeneity. This means that each chunk of space has a similar mass distribution. II. Isotropy. This means the universe looks the same in every direction. III. Universality. This means that out laws of physics apply everywhere equally, e.g. the laws of physics don’t change with time. The assumptions of homogeneity and isotropy are so fundamental that we call this the cosmological principle. It states that an observer in another galaxy would see the universe to have the same properties as we do.
    [Show full text]
  • Distances in Cosmology
    Distances in Cosmology REVIEW OF “WORLD MODELS” Simplify notation by adopting c=1, so that E=m. Friedmann's equation is then: . Substitute H(t)= a/a and recall that we can formally associate an energy density with the cosmological constant, i.e The index i refers to the type of particle fluid under consideration, e.g. matter or radiation. If the Universe is flat (k=0): Let us define the fraction of the critical density contributed by each component of the Universe : So that we have Ωm , Ωr and ΩΛ for matter, radiation and dark energy. These quantities are time-dependent, the values today are denoted as Ωm,0 We can rewrite the Friedmann eqn: If we define Ωk = -k/(aH)2, we can write: Flat FRW Cosmologies In the last lecture we showed that the density of matter evolves as: Set a0=1. The Friedmann equation becomes: or In a flat Universe, ΩΛ,0 + Ωm,0=1. Case 1: Λ>0 Use the substitution: to obtain Take the positive root: This can be integrated by completing the square in the u-integral and with substitutions v = u + 1 and cosh w = v: to yield the solution: Case 2, Λ < 0: Introduce Solution: CaseCase 33,, Λ=0 : This is now the Einstein-deSitter case which we have already encountered in the last lecture. A flat, pressureless universe with a small, but non-zero, cosmo- logical constant initially evolves as if it were Einstein-deSitter. Fo r Λ > 0, the second term on the right-hand side of these equations dominates at large values of t and the universe grows exponentially: A wide variety of world models are conceivable, depending on the values of the parameters Ω.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the CMB in Modern Cosmology
    The Role of the CMB in Modern Cosmology Bruce Partridge For the Planck Collaboration (Address: Haverford College, Haverford PA 19041 USA) [email protected] The Emergence of Modern Cosmology Edwin Hubble (1920s) discovers the Universe is expanding: distant galaxies move away from us From Hubble’s The Realm of the Nebulae (1936) The Emergence of Modern Cosmology Penzias and Wilson (1964) discover the cosmic microwave background (CMB) The Power of the CMB CMB makes the early universe simple -- and accessible CMB measurements provide precision in cosmology _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Two key properties of the CMB if it is truly cosmic If it Is from a Hot Big Bang, the CMB Should Have… A particular spectrum: blackbody or Planckian The observations agree: points are measurements; dashed line the expected spectrum The Universe Had a Hot Big Bang Origin— And Has Been Cooling Since As the Universe expands, it grows cooler and less dense in predictable ways From Dicke, Peebles, Roll and Wilkinson, explaining the CMB (early 1965) Moving back to earlier times, radiation density grew faster If it Is from the Big Bang , the CMB Should Be… Almost the same in all directions – the beginning of the Universe is all around us UU A microwave map of the whole sky (stretched out like this map CMB is (almost) the same in all directions: T = 2.275 K everywhere If it Is Cosmic, the CMB Should Be… Almost the same in all directions, but not exactly There need to be small temperature differences; and there are.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Optical Depth: Future Determination of Ionization History from the CMB
    Draft version January 31, 2020 Typeset using LATEX twocolumn style in AASTeX63 Beyond optical depth: Future determination of ionization history from the CMB D. J. Watts ,1 G. E. Addison ,1 C. L. Bennett ,1 and J. L. Weiland 1 1JHU Department of Physics and Astronomy, 3701 San Martin Drive, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA (Received October 1, 2019; Revised December 3, 2019; Accepted January 31, 2020) Submitted to ApJ ABSTRACT We explore the fundamental limits to which reionization histories can be constrained using only large-scale cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy measurements. The redshift distribution of the fractional ionization x z affects the angular distribution of CMB polarization. We project e ¹ º constraints on the reionization history of the universe using low-noise full-sky temperature and E- ˆ TE mode measurements of the CMB. We show that the measured TE power spectrum, C` , has roughly ˆ EE one quarter of the constraining power of C` on the reionization optical depth τ, and its addition ˆ EE improves the precision on τ by 20% over using C` only. We also use a two-step reionization model min with an additional high-redshift step, parameterized by an early ionization fraction xe , and a late reionization step at zre. We find that future high signal-to-noise measurements of the multipoles min 10 6 ` < 20 are especially important for breaking the degeneracy between xe and zre. In addition, we show that the uncertainties on these parameters determined from a map with sensitivity 10 µK arcmin are less than 5% larger than the uncertainties in the noiseless case, making this noise level a natural target for future large sky area E-mode measurements.
    [Show full text]