Exploring Empedocles and the Nature of Spiritual Determinism
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Chapter 1: An Unexpected Journey
When I initially set out to write about Peter Kingsley’s interpretation of Empedocles, I thought it would culminate in a single article. Here I am, however, at the fifth installment. Each time I believe I've reached my conclusion, something compels me to delve deeper. This journey has been enlightening.
Kingsley is a distinguished scholar recognized for his insights into the philosophical and mystical foundations of the Western tradition. In his autobiography, A Book of Life, he recounts how mystical experiences with Empedocles transformed him into a mentor.
Having read a significant portion of Kingsley’s works, I was captivated by this notion and returned to explore why Empedocles had such a profound impact on him—and now on me.
Section 1.1: Free Will vs. Determinism
In his book, Reality, Kingsley elaborates on the narratives of the cosmos and the soul as portrayed by Empedocles. I summarized the fundamentals of these tales in the first article of this series, which you can find linked here. In this piece, I want to concentrate on Kingsley’s perspective regarding the ongoing debate between free will and determinism embedded in these narratives.
Empedocles’ accounts describe a cyclical cosmos where events continuously repeat. Individuals begin in a heavenly state, living idyllic lives, only to descend into a material realm filled with hardship and suffering. Our current existence is merely a phase in this descent. Ultimately, everyone ascends back to heaven, and the cycle recommences.
Kingsley anticipates that people might question the role of free will in this framework:
“If each cosmic cycle inevitably concludes, then striving for anything seems pointless. Every tainted soul will eventually achieve purification and return to the divine realm. The effort to improve oneself appears futile; one might as well remain passive. For Empedocles, to invest energy as a teacher, acting as a prophet to awaken us, could seem pointless.”
He further argues, “If everything is fundamentally predetermined, then we lack free will.”
Subsection 1.1.1: Challenging the Notion of Free Will
As a proponent of free will, I found this assertion challenging. Yet, rather than dismiss it outright—out of respect for both Kingsley and Empedocles—I chose to explore further. I hope you will, too.
The determinism Kingsley refers to transcends the materialistic determinism espoused by figures like Newton, Galileo, or Descartes; it embodies a notion he describes as "Spiritual Determinism."
For Kingsley, the resolution to the free will versus determinism debate is straightforward:
“Our free will is a mere illusion; however, we are predestined to believe we possess it.”
He contends that the Western notion of free will, prevalent for two millennia, is “vanity” and an “illusion.” He believes we strive to escape the suffering of our earthly existence because our endeavors are preordained. Our true freedom lies in aligning with necessity and embracing our destiny as we navigate life.
Kingsley recognizes how this perspective may sound to contemporary individuals:
“Indeed, it feels constraining for us, who desire to be distinct and separate from nature and the universe. However, this desire to assert our individuality has already confined us. True freedom arises only when we realize our interconnectedness.”
Section 1.2: The Inevitable Descent
For Empedocles, the fall from the divine realm is not only inevitable but essential. Initially, we engage in this cycle unconsciously, acting against our will. Yet as the cycle unfolds, we are compelled to awaken to consciousness. This journey necessitates assistance, making figures like Empedocles essential guides.
Kingsley notes:
“We are compelled to do everything in our power to heighten our awareness.”
Chapter 2: The Paradox of Responsibility
In ancient Greek thought, even though the descent from the heavens is predetermined, individuals still bear responsibility for their actions.
This concept of “double responsibility” is exemplified in the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex. Oedipus is doomed to kill his father and marry his mother. Despite his attempts to escape this fate, he inevitably fulfills it.
Modern readers might argue that Oedipus did his utmost to evade his destiny, wanting to absolve him of blame when he unwittingly succumbs to it. Yet, the ancient Greeks held a different view. Although Oedipus is a tragic figure, he remains accountable for his fate.
Kingsley elucidates this idea:
“It’s crucial to grasp that, even if the consequences of our past actions aren’t truly ours, we still must take accountability for our perceived failures and endure their illusory repercussions in this deceptive world.”
He elaborates:
“All our supposed choices have been predetermined. Yet, we still must navigate the charade of making them. Everything is preordained—even whether you choose to continue reading this article or not.”
Video Description: This video explores the origins of metaphysics, emphasizing Parmenides' role as a pivotal figure in understanding Being and the cosmos.
Video Description: This video discusses Anaxagoras, a pre-Socratic philosopher who introduced the concept of Nous (mind) as a cosmic ordering principle, expanding our understanding of the cosmos.
Section 2.1: The Illusion of Freedom
Kingsley further extends this discussion to our pursuit of freedom.
“Even the desire for liberation and increased awareness is preordained, driven by our divine nature drawing us toward it. To unite with this inner essence is to realize that everything is governed by absolute laws.”
In this realization, we discover true freedom—not from the necessity of choice, but simply to exist as our authentic selves.
However, as souls are once again drawn from the heavens at the start of a new cycle, the illusion of choice re-emerges.
The Cycle of Futility
Kingsley asserts that the quest for growth and higher consciousness, in the end, only leads us back to our fall from grace, perpetuating the same cycle. He reflects on this paradox:
“There exists a cosmic principle: whenever you reach a moment of complete futility, another layer of meaning is just beyond your perception.”
Section 2.2: The Quest for Stillness
Kingsley asserts that the reality behind the constant fluctuations of falling from grace and returning is the cessation of all movement.
“As soon as he [Empedocles] begins to describe perpetual change, he points defiantly toward a state devoid of transformation.”
He suggests that we often become so engrossed in the endless shifts surrounding us that we overlook the overarching reality. Yes, change is constant, but it is repetitive and, in essence, not change at all. Those who attain a heightened awareness recognize that what seems like continuous change is merely a cycle.
“To perceive this with clarity is to understand that once movement has repeated sufficiently, it transitions into stillness. By embracing motion entirely, we ultimately uncover pure stillness.”
Stillness Equals Freedom
In this stillness, we understand the soul’s cyclical return to heaven is transient and illusory. The entire experience becomes a performance. Within this state, there is no upward or downward movement; it’s merely an illusion. From the vantage point of stillness, we find ourselves perpetually present.
This concept mirrors the Hindu idea of “samsara,” where individuals reincarnate repeatedly until enlightenment is achieved—until they pierce through the illusions of existence.
Kingsley articulates this state:
“We engage in the semblance of making unreal choices and experiencing emotions, but inwardly, it is resolved. The drama lacks essence.”
To reach stillness means neither to be ensnared by illusions nor to flee from them. Even when feeling trapped, we are free.
What are we liberated from? The deceptions that often govern our lives. We come to recognize that beneath it all lies Being.
Though I remain skeptical of the materialistic determinism proposed by thinkers like Newton or Galileo, I find Spiritual Determinism to be a different matter entirely.
I’m still grappling with Kingsley’s arguments, and I may explore this subject further in my next article. The ideas are already taking shape in my mind.
To delve deeper into the Intelligence and Magic of the Universe, click this link: The Magical Universe.