Atlantis - the perfect place

I have been an avid reader since my childhood. Reading has been my favorite hobby. Reading illuminates me, prevents cognitive decline, and most importantly provides me the much-needed solace in the ever-increasing stress in my hectic life. But I must confess that used to have a preconceived notion that " old is not gold" when it came to books. This prejudice might have risen from the occupational hazard of being a researcher where we are vigorously advised to be acquainted with the most accurate up-to-date research literature. In the research field, the most recent documents are considered the most reliable because improved and more efficient instruments and methodologies are used for the experiments conducted, and the old documents are in turn looked down upon. For this reason, almost all the novels I've read belong to the 20th and 21st centuries. Six months ago, this misconception of mine got debunked. My family and my cousin's family planned to visit Yellowstone during the weekend and for this reason, I went to his house with my family. On reaching there I got sick, and I had to stay back while the others went to Yellowstone. Feeling bored I browsed through my cousin's bookshelf. It contained about 90 books and I found that I have read eighty-nine of them. Only one unread book was the new Atlantis by Francis Bacon. I was so skeptical to read the "prehistoric" book, but I took the chance. The book changed my thought process. Oh Lord, how wrong I was!

Written in the 1600s it is a utopian story about an island, called Bensalem, which was discovered by European navigators during a voyage to the South Seas (the South Pacific). where an advanced civilization existed. Bensalem means “perfect son” in Hebrew and the place was perfect indeed. The rulers and caretakers of Bensalem have purposefully kept their territory a secret from the world. When they send out voyagers to Europe and other continents, they have these men pose as natives of known countries. Despite their isolation, the main religion of Bensalem was Christianity as they were contacted two decades after the death of Jesus by a signal in the heavens like a meteor.

The narrator is part of a crew and is ultimately provided with a long description of the scientific progress made on this isolated island. The book is a book of prophecy. It is unbelievable how in the 1600s predicted what has actually come to pass through technology in our own modern world. It mentions buildings of half-mile height. It talks about advanced medicines and methods of refrigeration, glasses, and methods to see small and minute bodies, and varied means of producing light, originally, from diverse bodies. The catalog of miraculous inventions seems endless.

Francis Bacon is considered the founder of the modern scientific method. His new scientific method focused on orderly experimentation. Bacon emphasized logical and accurate thinking, and understanding of the world man lived in. This understanding should be based solely on the facts of this world and the results of experiments and should not be gulped from the ancients’ tests without verifying.

This new modern science moreover presents the footing for modern political science where a strict separation of religion and philosophy is espoused. According to Bacon theology consists of two parts - natural and the revealed. Natural theology is derived from the study of nature and the creatures. Everything else is derived from revealed theology.

Salomon's House - The House of Solomon is the central institution of the island. The institute preached that belief to understand natural science one needs to be patient and seek to find appropriate methods to investigate. From Salomon’s house, there goes forth ‘merchants of light’ and ‘lamps. Light is identified with truth and is symbolic of natural philosophy and not of divine philosophy. The light is primarily the light of Nature and is for the beneficence of all men. It requires a modern spirit to weave together the knowledge gathered to master the universe. I am enchanted by these deep philosophical concepts and written in such simple works.

The island also has two long and fair galleries. One gallery hosts configurations and illustrations of extraordinary and excellent inventions. The other gallery exhibits statues of inventors.

The major religion of the island is Christianity. The main attraction of Christianity is its irrationality. As the divine soul was a concern of religion and the irrational soul can be studied, the door to understanding it using the methods of science was unhindered. The society of the NEW ATLANTIS is a scientific society, dominated by scientists, and driven by science. Science overcomes uncertainties and affects change accordingly is able to deliver a permanently pleasant society. Bensalem was devoid of misfortunes, vice, and decay.

Bensalem seems to blend the sacredness of Jerusalem and the delights and amenities of Babylon where the shortage is eliminated thereby eliminating the need for money. The inhabitants exhibit a commitment to truth rather than victory. The inhabitants are encouraged to observe and analyze the observations together, find the similarities and variations among the events and objects in the universe. It is important to set up laws upon which the subsequent actions can be based. Sometimes religious ideas and the breakthroughs of nature and observations were contradictory, but it is important for society to believe both. The greatest treasure is knowledge and is not of a monetary value. The inhabitants gain the ability to rule over Nature.

Torture and light are two images used to refer to knowledge. Torture indicates the violence of nature, but it has to be understood that the forces of Nature are against us but in a rather passive manner. Light signifies natural philosophy.

Science is placed high and so they erect statues of inventors of the western world thereby showing their commonness and baseness to human preservation.

By freeing theology and philosophy, Bacon was able to shape philosophy so that it might undertake an unbiased study of the universe. This left man subject to the will of God and thereby shorn of his freedom. It is obvious that this creation could not long satisfy the thinking mind as it was far too contradictory. The laymen have a genuine thirst for knowledge, yet they cannot know what is uncovered either by religion or by science.

I was so fascinated by the writing that I did a lot of research to understand more about the subject. It turned out that this work was inspired by the writings of Sir Thomas More and Plato.

Sir Thomas More, was an English scholar, writer, and lawyer. In 1516 he published his literary work, Utopia, which examines the perception of a perfect society. In the book, Utopia is an egalitarian society for the good of every inhabitant. Utopia is portrayed as a learning place where people can live free and prosper without governmental constraints. The foundation of Utopians’ lifestyles was rationality and the strength of natural reason, instead of strict adherence to fervent religion.

In one of Plato's later dialogues Critias, recites the story of the mighty island kingdom Atlantis and its expeditions to subjugate Athens, which are unsuccessful due to the ordered society of the Athenians. The history of Atlantis is furnished in brief. Atlantis was presented to Poseidon. Poseidon had many children with a mortal lover named Cleit. The firstborn child Atlas inherited the kingdom and in a similar fashion, the firstborns inherited it for many generations. Plato paints a remarkable picture of the island of Atlantis with words. It illustrates the Temple to Poseidon and Cleito on the island and talks about the legendary metal orichalcum.

Critias talks about the virtues of the Atlanteans. The people had affection towards the god and were obedient to the laws. Their spirits were a welcome union of gentleness and wisdom in the various chances of life. They were least materialistic, and wealth did not deter them from their self-control.

They maintained a sober lifestyle and sought to be amicable and respectful towards each other. However, the Atlanteans got engulfed by the dark shadows of corruption when the divine portion began to recede. Gradually they became diluted with the mortal admixture and were losing the eye to see the true happiness. They appeared glorious and blessed at the very time when they became avarice and unrighteous power. This earned the wrath of Zeus, the god of gods.

There have been many debates as to what the inspiration behind Plato’s Atlantis was. Many researchers are of the opinion that Akrotiri a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement on the Greek island of Santorini was the primary inspiration. The Theran eruption during the 16th century BC shattered the settlement and it remained entombed in volcanic ash. The fine frescoes and many objects and artworks remained preserved. Akrotiri has been excavated since 1967. It is possible that even though the volcano eruptions took place in the 16th century, the story of the land may have traveled from one place to another through generations.

I being a scientific researcher and bookworm, am fascinated by the scientific-minded New Atlantis residents who respect traditions also. I would always cherish the egalitarian and beautiful island of Bensalem. I have come across a myriad of frictional worlds- The world of Azeroth where armies with the slightest provocation go on an epic clash for dominance, Middle-Earth of the Lord of the Rings, and the enchanting portal world full of magic, mythical beasts in Chronicles of Narnia provided an escape from the real world. These fantasy worlds are amazing in their own way. However, none made such a profound impact on my mind. Such a world like Atlantis has intrigued the greatest minds for thousands of years and continues to do so. Bensalem is ahead of every place on earth in terms of scientific progress. This world is realistic but perfect devoid of degeneracy. When we human beings are striving to make the world a better place we should keep Atlantis as our goal.