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Knowledge of UItimate Reality | The Philosophy Student

According to the so-called 'Pythagorean Illuminati', in Mike Hockney's eBook The God Factory, there are only 4 methods of receiving knowledge of ultimate reality:

1. Scientific materialism
   
2. Metaphysics
3. Religion
4. Mathematics
   

Let's explore each one of them as Hockney summarises them.

1. Scientific materialism states that experimentation of scientific theories is the only method to be positive of anything. If empirical evidence reflect scientific theories, then they are correct. Anything that cannot be tested is then either metaphysics or religion.

2. Metaphysics is what comes post physics - everything that cannot be solved with experimentation. Hockney says that metaphysical statements have been challenged on many grounds and so no one seems to take it seriously as a way for objective knowledge. "Scientists," Hockney says, "frequently sneer at philosophy, dismissing it as mere metaphysics. Of course, a huge amount of science is metaphysical." He adds that cosmology is also metaphysical, as well as the various interpretations of Quantum Mechanics. Hockney goes on to say that 'The Many Worlds' interpretation of quantum mechanics is all metaphysical, "If not utter science fiction." Holistically, metaphysics is highly speculative, very interesting, but all in all, unreliable.

3. Religion, an alternate type of metaphysical inquiry, states that absolute knowledge or truth can be known by an infallible authority i.e. a Holy Text, a divine revelation, a Messiah, a saint, a guru, a holy man, a prophet. Religion is based on faith, in that, you must believe without asking any questions what the holy source says. "For any thinking, rational person," Hockney continues, "this is no kind of answer."

4. According the Pythagorean Illuminati, mathematics presents the absolute and 'unarguable' truth of the cosmos. Mathematics, unlike science, can be done purely mentally. Mathematical truths are of reason alone. "A perfect mathematical universe could be constructed entirely in the mind."

I think I'll leave it there as it gets a bit complex but basically, the Pythagorean Illuminati think mathematics is the only truth there is.

I'll just ask you this: Do you think there could be order, organisation, patterns, laws, or relationships between things, without mathematics?