Scientific Occultism

Excerpt from 'Scientific Occultism'

Belief in a Law that has ever been and must forever be the basic and fundamental principle of life has always existed. Thinkers and philosophers in all ages have exerted their ingenuity and genius to discover this Law, which would solve the various and multiple manifestations called life, with divers degrees of success or failure. The very effort to discover this Law is self-evident proof of its existence. Yet the great mass of mankind is asking this question at the beginning of the Twentieth Century: “What is the fundamental Law or Principle underlying the countless phenomena known as life."

We do not hope to answer this vital question to the satisfaction of all; we do expect, however, to state a Hypothesis upon which the various phenomena of life may be shown to have an explanation that is in no way antagonistic to the established principles of modern science; but is, in fact, in perfect harmony with the very essence of modern science, so far as science is established in its various branches; and broad enough and sufficiently comprehensive to be called a philosophy of life.

In stating our position we realize that the value of any hypothesis depends upon its capacity to reveal facts before unknown, and to account for those already known.

In order to make clear our understanding of the terms Law, laws, and life, we will define them in theiprcler given, and upon the meaning of these terms, as defined, do we base this argument.

Definition of Law: Law is the Inevitable, the Constant, the mathematics of combination or environment, the necessity for specialization—a thing unthinkable save that It is.

Definition of the Laws: The laws are tendencies ; they are that quality or state tending toward some purpose as accomplishing a result. They are the specializations of the Law. The Law is one pole of being, the laws are the opposite pole.

Many laws that control certain phenomena are known to science, but no one of these laws control all the phenomena which we define as life. These laws of science are the countless tendencies which result from the necessity for specialization inherent in Law itself. They are the mathematical principles in the combinations that make the environments of life.

We trust that this will make plain the distinction between Law, as we define it, and the laws which are observed in the myriad phenomena of life.

Definition of Life: Life is variety, motion, manifestation, specialization in its various forms, resulting in combinations or environment; it is the end, purpose, and result of the laws; the experience of the Will.

Having stated our definitions of Law, laws, and life, it is next in order to state the hypothesis upon which we base this argument.

The Hypothesis: We postulate immortal Units of Force, each having the power to generate a constant but limited amount of energy, and no two alike in quantity. Upon this force generation in the Unit, necessitated by Law, do we base life. Life results from the inter-dealing and inter-playing of these Units among themselves eternally, sometimes potential, again kinetic, each limited in the amount of force generated, but unlimited in variety of motion, manifestation or specialization.

A principle that is assumed to be the base of any science or philosophy can never be established by that science or philosophy, yet all reasoning and conclusions must of necessity rest upon some assumed postulate; hence if our hypothesis can be shown to account reasonably for the various expressions, manifestations, and specializations, which we term life, it is but logical to conclude that it is the true hypothesis, at least until it shall be proven false by some system more comprehensive in its capacity to reveal unknown facts and to account for those already known.

A short analysis of the hypothesis, at this point, may aid the reader to a better understanding and a clearer comprehension of its scope. We will consider it briefly.

Units of Force may be thought of as original centers of force; parts possessing all the qualities of the whole, yet remaining parts only. As there can be no generalization without specialization, no unity without variety, it follows, from this axiom, that to have a whole there must be parts, at least two, and given two, ex necessitate there are innumerables, or infinity in variety.

We predicate of the Unit of Force the power to generate a constant but limited amount of energy. It is apparent that the power to generate force is something different from the force generated. The energy produced can be considered only as a result of the exercise of this power in the Unit. We cannot conceive of a power generating itself, as something cannot come from no-thing.

Generation, according to the hypothesis, means calling into activity that which existed potentially in the Unit of Force. "We can comprehend a power producing the phenomena called force. Manifest force is the result of the activity of this power in the Unit. The power is a cause, and as no other cause is given in the hypothesis, it must be the original or primal cause.

We also posit of the Unit that it is sometimes active and sometimes potential. It logically follows that this power in the Unit can act or not act as it chooses. There being no other element in the hypothesis to influence this power in its action, it must be primal or original. Not being compelled by causes outside itself, it must be free and sovereign. As the Unit is limited in its power of generation, it is limited in quantity, but being free to act or not to act, as it chooses, it is unlimited in quality or variety.

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