Philosophy as a Rite of Rebirth: From Ancient Egypt to Neoplatonism

by Algis Uždavinys

Philosophy as a Rite of Rebirth challenges our understanding of philosophy - indeed it challenges many centuries of assumptions which have reduced othodox philosophy to a shadow of its original. Algis U¿davinys returns to the very roots of philosophy in Ancient Egypt, and shows why the Greeks revered that land of pyramids and priest-kings as the source of divine wisdom. Bringing his understanding of many great traditions of philosophy - Indian, Islamic, Greek, and others - he presents the case for considering philosophy as a human participation in a theophany, or divine drama Casting aside the unnatural limitations of modern philosophy, as well as the grave misunderstandings of Egyptologists, radical and exciting possibilities emerge for the serious philosopher. These possibilities will certainly change our view of the universe in general, but most particularly our view of ourselves. The Rebirth of the title is one that implies an expansion of consciousness both upwards towards the divine heights of reality, and outwards to embrace the whole of creation as a living image of the gods. The exercises of philosophy thus move from the rational to the intuitive, onward to pure contemplation and, ultimately, to a god-like energy in the divine drama. Dr Uzdavinys has recently been a research fellow at at La Trobe University in Bendigo, Australia and an associate professor at the Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts (Kaunas Department). He is a published author in English, French and Lithuanian and translator into Russian and Lithuanian.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Theology, History, Metaphysics, Egypt, Mysticism

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Was a prolific Lithuanian philosopher and scholar.
His research included works on hellenic philosophy , especially Platonism and Neoplatonism as well
a pioneering hermeneutical comparative study of Egyptian and Greek religions, especially their esoteric relations to Semitic religions, and in particular the inner aspect of Islam

Reviews

[anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful scholarly summation of the rituals of deification and theurgic ascent. One can't help but revel in Uzdavinys' process as an academician to provide the source and resources of telestic transformation, philosophical rebirth, being and beyond-being within Egyptian thought, the mystical origins of Platonism, divine semiotics, gnostic hermeneutics, and the framework of which theurgy can be internally derived and seen, as such, transforming the ba into akh within the solar barque of Ra

[Mateusz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone....with enough background knowledge to catch the nuances and orienteer around. First things first, one needs to believe in a transcendent reality, even if 'virtually' and 'as a test', otherwise the excercise is futile, second, one needs in good faith to build his structural theology in order to grasp the manifold topics that Mr. Uzdavinys touched. Preferentially the theological structure should be in place earlier, so basic knowledge of some Egyptian theologies (Egyptian Book of the Dead, Anthologies of Literature) and neoplatonic writings (especially Iamblichus and Apuleius - the Isiac part) should be read beforehand. Otherwise one might lose the thread and lose interest in a great and contentful book that it is. My goal is not to detract anyone from reading this great work, but to support him before he or she dives into deep waters offered by Mr. Uzdavinys. The synthesis is a definite compendium for anyone interested in the theological elucidations of various Egyptian theologies (Memphite, Theban, Heliopolitan, Hermopolitan), it should be of interest to Khemetist magicians in dialogue with platonism, neo-platonism and theurgy. Tonnes of research and a commitment to truth and wisdom! I found it a general survey of well-proportioned theological concepts of ancient provenance that I will most definitely return to! It contains a handy glossary at the end with most of the used concepts explained succintly. Highly recommended!

[Maan Kawas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, though some parts were really difficult to grasp! I found it enlightening and informative. This excellent book showed me how sophisticated and complex were the ancient Egyptians and their theology and religion. I loved reading about the influence of Ancient Egyptian theology and religion/philosophy on the philosophy of Orphism, the Pythagoreans, Plato, and Neoplatonists.

[Valentín Serrano García · Rating 4 out of 5]

La tradición neoplatónica, con su retórica críptica y sus secretos sepultados, sigue siendo un sugerente enigma, un tormento psiquiátrico, un éxtasis imaginativo y un imposible sublime. Al menos, para el intelecto e intuición modernas. Eso, en las manos de un autor sumergido en su abrumadora carga metafórica, puede disfrutarse con gran embeleso siempre y cuando uno esté sobre aviso.

Se puede abordar el núcleo mistagogico y teurgico de dicha tradición desde diversas estrategias: la poesía ("El universo yace en el alma", Proclo), la mística ("El santuario de silencio condensa todos los mundos", Damascio), el arte (”Somos iconos de las realidades inteligibles", Proclo), la filosofía deconstruida ("La forma más elevada de hermenéutica neoplatonica considera a la filosofía, en última instancia, una ficción", Sara Rappe) o...el hermetismo especulativo.

Uzdavinis da prioridad, como en la mayor parte de los ensayos publicados en Atalanta, a la última vía. Lo que, en mi opinión, hace que estos voluminosos cantos a lo irracional suelan desbarrar en fantasías alucinadas, densidad etimológica y citas a autores de tendencias un poco delirantes, mezclados con brillantes tradicionalistas afectados de un melancólico conservadurismo (Schuon, Burckhardt, Coomarawamy...).

Uzdavinis, al menos, consigue arrojarte al apeiron neoplatónico en toda su salvaje poesía surrealista. No creo que demuestre lo que se propone (i.e
la íntima conexión entre Egipto y Grecia) y, además, tiene capítulos en exceso alucinados.
No obstante, si se desea un baño de neoplatonismo acondicionado por un auténtico conocedor (y creyente), este volumen cumple su cometido. Además, siguiendo la estela de Pierre Hadot, mucho tiene de razón Uzdavinis al señalar que la filosofía antigua implicaba una conversión interior.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Läsning 2: Fortfarande utmärkt.
Läsning 1: Denna bok fokuserar på praxis - dåd - som en del av filosofiskt liv, under den egyptiska och grekiska antiken. Vad gäller de grekiska passagerna, kan jag bekräfta att de inte är i strid med gängse tolkningar - den egyptiska delen, som märk väl är den tyngre, stämmer med vad senare källor skrivit: dessa kunde dock mycket väl vara i samma tradition som denna bok, och därmed inte utgöra oberoende bekräftelse av dess validitet.

Den tolkning som betonas, är rollen av att vara en helgjuten individ, vilket man tolkar som att hitta sitt inre hjärtas rum, som i sin tur är en utväxt ur den heliga Enheten. Detta är en väldigt nyplatonistisk tolkning av platon och de samtida filosoferna, men den är verkligen inte obefogad. Jag fascineras av återbruket av symbolisk etymologi, som ju faktiskt framträder ganska ofta i platons egna beskrivningar, där vi bland annat får höra om likheten mellan ordet för målstyrning (telos) och ritual.

Jag rekommenderar denna bok ur djupet av mitt hjärta, för de som söker samband som inte alltid är självklara. Den är brukbar utanför den kontext som ges, dvs. utanför studiet av gränslandet mellan religion och filosofi under seklen kring Kristi födelse.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like a tomb raider with all the treasure I came out of this book with. Seeing the Egyptian metaphysics come to life in their mythologies is fascinating.

This is a top-shelf scholarly work, every few pages have branched off into more research, lots of information I haven't seen anywhere else.

[Catholicus Magus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books which are published today on the Platonists, Pythagoreans, and the most august Egyptian religion stretching back four millennium are worth the hype of being "groundbreaking" or otherwise insightful. More often than not, these works are merely "books" stitched together from hyperspecialized, spiritually devoid monographs that are reheated for general consumption; Uždavinys' work constitutes a refreshing break from this monotonous cycle of big claims, underwhelming analysis. Quite literally, every sentence of this book breathes the complex, cosmologically rich narrative that captivated the likes of Plotinus, St. Augustine, Julian the Philosopher, Libanius, Gemistos Plethon, Marsilio Ficino, and generations of other thinkers ranging from the most virulent throne-and-altar Catholics onwards to the closeted pagans of the pre-modern era. Uždavinys guides the deracinated reader through all the religious systems which would invariably find its apogee in Hellenistic Egypt and Rome, explaining the "esoteric" and "exoteric" practices which—prior to the metaphysical iconoclasm of the Protestant Reformers and their philosophe grandchildren—developed in tandem with one another, and marked the "sacrum regnum" of traditional societies. The process of the soul's spiritual epistrophe, contra the triumphal particularism of either Christianity or Judaism, is one which is built upon by each successive school of Sophia's lovers: returning to the solar barque of Ra becomes, after the religious reforms of Akhenaten and his abortive "materialist henotheism of the Sun," a becoming-Ra through theurgic imitation of the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh as visible avatar of Amun-Ra, is the mystical entity which every Egyptian priest conformed "in persona" to during the performance of his daily prayers, the liturgical life, and other pious acts. From here, the Greeks were to develop their own account of deification, and Western philosophy began to bear its radiant fruits on the banks of the Nile.

I wish I could write more, but no amount of description I could give would be even a fraction as representative of Uždavinys as this book is of his soul. It is clear that he was not only a first-rate academic, but he was a true lover of wisdom and no doubt is numbered among the blessed in the after-life. A divine frenzy permeates the totality of this work, for no man who was not illuminated by gnosis could be so clear, so erudite, nor devoted as Mr. Uždavinys was to reclaiming the lost spiritual patrimony of the Greeks. The only difficulty with a work such as this is that, at times, the narrative may become unduly convoluted, or emphasis of the mechanics of spiritual ascent / descent is repetitive. Other than this, I feel truly ashamed to not have read this book earlier in my life. This work is without a doubt, the best antidote to all the nonsense which floats around about "Plato being an idealist à la Hegel," "the Greeks being proto-rationalists," or "only the Hebrews had access to mystical contemplation." May Mr. Uždavinys continue to inspire future lovers of Sophia to ascend the seven heavens from his place in the solar barque, singing hymns of glory to whichever God truly lies beyond this mortal realm.

[Hagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful, well-crafted rendering of the Egyptian roots of Greek philosophy. Uždavinys compels a reevaluation of the reductive errors of modern philosophy and its assumptions therein. A radical restoration to the ancient purpose of philosophy with a divine vision. To take seriously the theurgical and the mystical elements of Platonism, its origins in the transcendent ancient Egyptian thought.

This is a call for a philosophical rebirth. 

Uždavinys was one for the ages.

[CaveatEmptor]

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[Mahaperrotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books I ever read