Hermetic philosophy

Use in the book

I claims universal Egyptian origins, restricted transmission, and a teaching that survives outside fixed creeds. III distinguishes its inner account of disciplines from their outer modern forms. IV then gives the work's own evaluative division between philosophy and metaphysical speculation.

XIV restates the role of the book as a reconciler of apparently conflicting theories. Its historical and intellectual identity is consequently part of the argument: the principles are presented as a prior key through which other systems are to be read.

Places to read

1. I The Hermetic Philosophy · Block 2“From old Egypt have come the fundamental esoteric and occult teachings which have so strongly influenced the philosophies of all races, nations and peoples, for several thousand years. Egypt, the home” …
2. I The Hermetic Philosophy · Block 6“Even to this day, we use the term "hermetic" in the sense of "secret"; "sealed so that nothing can escape"; etc., and this by reason of the fact that the followers” …
3. I The Hermetic Philosophy · Block 7… “dissemination of the truth has always characterized the Hermetics, even unto the present day. The Hermetic Teachings are to be found in all lands, among all religions, but never identified with” …
4. III Mental Transmutation · Block 3… “many secret branches of knowledge possessed by the Hermetists, was that known as Mental Transmutation, which forms the subject matter of this lesson.”
5. IV THE ALL · Block 9“(At this point, it may be proper for me to state that we make a distinction between Religion and Theology—between Philosophy and Metaphysics. Religion, to us, means that intuitional realization of” …
6. XIV Mental Gender · Block 19“We shall not enter into an extended discussion of, or description of, the varied phenomena of mental influence or psychic activity. There are many books, many of them quite good, which” …

In this edition

Hermetic, Hermetist, and Hermetics are retained as the source's varying forms. The lexicon does not infer different organized schools from those variations alone.

Reading the argument

Understanding what this book means by Hermetic is the first task. Establishing how its scheme relates to surviving ancient Hermetica is a separate historical inquiry. The work does not supply the manuscript evidence needed to turn its universal genealogy into a documented history.

Hermetic Philosophy

“Hermetic Philosophy” — 15 occurrences in 12 text blocks: I.8–9; II.2, 25; III.14; IV.18; VI.13; VIII.3, 11, 30; XIII.3; XIV.2.

Hermetic

“Hermetic” — 132 occurrences in 84 text blocks: Intro.1, 3–5, 7, 9–10; I.6–10, 14; II.2, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25; III.1, 6, 8, 11–12, 14; IV.5–6, 18; V.5, 14; VI.3, 5, 11, 13–14; VII.2–4, 9–10, 13, 19; VIII.2–3, 8, 11, 14, 18, 30–32; IX.2–3, 5, 10–11, 13; X.2–3, 12; XI.2, 7; XII.2–3, 10, 13; XIII.2–3, 5–6, 8–10; XIV.2–3, 13, 18; XV.2–3, 7, 16–17.

Hermetists

“Hermetists” — 39 occurrences in 29 text blocks: Intro.8; II.10, 16, 19, 22; III.2–3, 10; IV.7; VI.3; VII.9, 12; VIII.8–11, 30; IX.6–7, 9; XI.6, 9, 11–14; XV.11, 14, 18.

Hermetics

“Hermetics” — 5 occurrences in 5 text blocks: I.7; II.19; VI.13–14; XV.7.