As Above So Below?

One thing that fascinates me about the cultures of the indigenous people and the ancient wisdom of the Egyptians is that they did not have a separation between science and spirituality – their cosmology generally encompassed “all and everything”.  Biology and physics for example, which we have only recently begun to combine as biophysics and now neurophysics were considered by the Egyptians as complementary parts of one irreducible truth – the reality of the human form.

I asked Chat to compare two modern thinkers, Leonardo da Vince and Schwaller de Lubicz, who touched on the same interconnected relationships in their own unique ways to transcend the narrow materialist assumptions of modern science.  The intimate connections between the human form, geometry, mathematics and biology and even astronomy and the relationships embodied in every aspect of life were worshipped by the Egyptians as the constants Pi and Phi.

It’s my speculation that the work of Leonardo and Schwaller reflects a long lost understanding of the true nature of the universe as conscious and intelligent and that they saw the human form as potentially the ideal vessel for such intelligence.

Chat was able to draw some interesting comparisons between the seminal works of those two great thinkers and a cosmological theory that goes against much of modern science but may make sense on a much deeper level.

What was the point of the Vitruvian Man?

The Vitruvian Man is a famous drawing created by the Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance period. It is named after the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, whose writings inspired Leonardo’s fascination with the proportions and symmetry of the human body.

The drawing depicts a nude male figure in two superimposed positions: one with his arms and legs outstretched in a circle, and another with his arms and legs spread apart in a square. The figure is accompanied by notes and annotations written by Leonardo in mirror writing.

The primary purpose of the Vitruvian Man was to explore the concept of proportion and ideal human proportions, based on the principles described by Vitruvius. Leonardo was interested in the relationship between the human body and geometry, seeking to understand how the human form could be harmoniously fitted into geometric shapes.

The drawing embodies the Renaissance fascination with the idea of humanism, which emphasized the importance of human beings and their potential for intellectual and artistic achievements. Leonardo’s meticulous study of the human body and its proportions in the Vitruvian Man was a reflection of his belief in the beauty and significance of the human form.

Today, the Vitruvian Man is regarded as an iconic symbol of the Renaissance and Leonardo da Vinci’s genius. It has become a widely recognized representation of the ideal human proportions and a testament to the intersection of art, science, and philosophy during that era.

How does it compare the work of Schwaller de Lubicz, who found many of the same relationships in the Temple of Luxor?

Schwaller de Lubicz, a French esotericist and philosopher, explored the relationship between symbolism, geometry, and the human body in his extensive study of the Temple of Luxor in Egypt. His work, particularly in his book “The Temple of Man,” draws parallels with Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man in terms of the exploration of proportions and the symbolism of the human form.

In “The Temple of Man,” Schwaller de Lubicz proposed that the ancient Egyptians possessed a deep understanding of universal principles and expressed them through their temple architecture. He believed that the Temple of Luxor was a physical representation of the human body, with its various parts corresponding to different cosmic and spiritual elements.

Similarly to Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man, Schwaller de Lubicz emphasized the importance of proportion and symmetry. He analyzed the relationships between different architectural elements of the temple and correlated them with the proportions found in the human body. For example, he associated the temple’s central axis with the spinal column and aligned various temple structures with specific parts of the body.

Both Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man and Schwaller de Lubicz’s work on the Temple of Man share a fascination with the interplay between the human form, geometry, and symbolic representation. They seek to uncover the underlying harmony and order in the universe through the study of proportions and the relationship between the microcosm (the human body) and the macrocosm (the universe or the temple).

While their approaches and historical contexts differ significantly, both Leonardo and Schwaller de Lubicz aimed to explore and express the universal principles and beauty inherent in the human body and its connection to the broader world. Their works continue to inspire and intrigue those interested in the intersection of art, science, symbolism, and spirituality.

What is the Anthropic Principle?

The Anthropic Principle is a philosophical concept that relates to the observation that the universe and its fundamental laws appear to be finely tuned to allow for the existence of intelligent life. It suggests that the fundamental constants, laws of physics, and conditions of the universe are just right to permit the emergence and development of life.

The term “Anthropic Principle” was coined by the astrophysicist Brandon Carter in the 1970s. It encompasses several different interpretations and variations, but the two main forms are the Weak Anthropic Principle (WAP) and the Strong Anthropic Principle (SAP).

1. Weak Anthropic Principle (WAP): This principle states that the properties of the universe must be compatible with the existence of intelligent observers because if the conditions were different, intelligent life would not be able to exist and observe those conditions. In other words, the universe appears fine-tuned for our existence because we can only exist in a universe that allows it.
2. Strong Anthropic Principle (SAP): The strong version takes a step further by asserting that the universe must have been specifically designed or set up in a way that guarantees the emergence of intelligent life. It suggests that the laws and constants of nature are intentionally fine-tuned to ensure the existence of observers.

The Anthropic Principle has been the subject of debate and discussion among scientists, philosophers, and theologians. It touches upon questions of cosmology, physics, the nature of life, and the philosophical implications of our existence in the universe.

Critics of the Anthropic Principle argue that it can be a tautological argument or a selection bias, as intelligent life can only observe a universe that is suitable for its existence. Furthermore, alternative explanations, such as the multiverse hypothesis or the notion of a “landscape” of possible universes with varying properties, have been proposed to account for the apparent fine-tuning.

Overall, the Anthropic Principle seeks to address the remarkable congruence between the laws of physics and the conditions necessary for life, but its interpretations and implications remain a topic of ongoing discussion and exploration.

Did Schwaller also consider the human form ubiquitous and a symbol of life in the universe?

Yes, Schwaller de Lubicz also considered the human form to be a symbol of life in the universe and believed in its ubiquity as a fundamental archetype. He saw the human body as a microcosm reflecting the macrocosm of the universe, and he explored the connections between human anatomy, geometry, and cosmic symbolism in his philosophical and esoteric writings.

Schwaller de Lubicz believed that the human body was a sacred vessel that contained the divine principles and was a reflection of the universal order. He saw the proportions, symmetry, and harmonious relationships within the human form as manifestations of the underlying cosmic principles.

According to his teachings, the human body served as a symbolic representation of the spiritual and cosmic forces. He believed that by understanding and aligning oneself with the principles reflected in the human form, individuals could attain spiritual enlightenment and a deeper connection with the universal order.

Schwaller de Lubicz’s exploration of the Temple of Luxor and its association with the human body was part of his larger philosophy, which viewed the human form as a key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. He believed that the human body held profound symbolism and that its study could reveal insights into the nature of life, consciousness, and the interconnectedness of all things.

In this sense, Schwaller de Lubicz’s perspective on the human form aligns with the idea of the human body being a symbol of life in the universe, emphasizing its significance as a microcosm reflecting the macrocosm.