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