In Prometheus and Atlas, Jason Reza Jorjani embarks on a bold philosophical journey, interweaving myth, science, and history to explore the profound impact of technological advancement and the paranormal on human existence. Published in 2016 by Arktos Media, the book offers a deep exploration of Promethean themes, drawing from ancient mythology to address the pressing challenges of our modern era.
The title itself evokes powerful imagery: Prometheus, the Titan who defied Zeus to bring fire to humanity, and Atlas, the Titan condemned to carry the heavens on his shoulders. Together, these figures symbolize humanity’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge, the burden of responsibility that comes with it, and the consequences of technological overreach.
The Core Thesis: Spectral Revolution and Technoscience
At the heart of Prometheus and Atlas is the idea of a “spectral revolution.” Jorjani argues that the paranormal, long relegated to the fringes of scientific inquiry, is integral to understanding both human consciousness and the natural world. By treating phenomena such as telepathy, precognition, and psychokinesis as core elements of reality rather than supernatural anomalies, Jorjani challenges the mechanistic worldview that has dominated science since the Enlightenment.
In this sense, Prometheus and Atlas is not just a book about myth or philosophy; it is a manifesto for a new kind of science—one that embraces the unknown and incorporates parapsychological phenomena into a broader understanding of reality.
Myth and Technoscience: The Promethean Archetype
Prometheus symbolizes humanity’s creative, rebellious spirit, as well as the dangers of our relentless pursuit of knowledge. Jorjani explores how the Promethean archetype is reflected in the modern scientific and technological enterprise. Like Prometheus, we harness the fire of knowledge, but the consequences of this power—whether nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, or genetic engineering—can be destructive.
A vivid example of this is Jorjani’s comparison of the atomic bomb to the fire stolen from Zeus. Just as Prometheus gave mortals the power to create civilization, the advent of nuclear technology gave humanity the ability to both build and destroy on an unprecedented scale. In a world shaped by Promethean science, humanity faces both incredible potential and existential risk.
Atlas: The Weight of Technological Civilization
While Prometheus represents the fire of discovery, Atlas symbolizes the burden that comes with it. In the myth, Atlas is condemned to carry the heavens, a metaphor that Jorjani applies to our modern civilization. Our technological advancements have created a global society interconnected by science and technology, but this progress comes with immense responsibility.
Jorjani argues that technology is not neutral; it shapes our worldview and defines our existence. From the global spread of the internet to the development of AI, technological progress has not only expanded human capabilities but also imposed new forms of control and surveillance. The Titan Atlas, then, is a symbol of the weight of this technological civilization, which humanity must bear.
Suppression of the Spectral and Its Parasitic Relationship with Religious Fundamentalism
One of the most fascinating aspects of Prometheus and Atlas is Jorjani’s treatment of the paranormal, or what he terms the “spectral.” Unlike many philosophers, who dismiss phenomena like telepathy or clairvoyance as irrational or unscientific, Jorjani incorporates them into his philosophical framework. He argues that the suppression of the spectral has been dishonest, driven by the mechanistic worldview of modern science, which preemptively dismisses paranormal phenomena without truly investigating them.
According to Jorjani, this suppression is not an innocent oversight, but a deliberate act to maintain control over human thought and behavior. The spectral challenges the rigid frameworks of reason, objectivity, and empirical verification, so modern institutions, both scientific and religious, seek to marginalize these phenomena to retain intellectual hegemony. This suppression, Jorjani argues, has parasitic ties to Abrahamic religious fundamentalism, particularly in the way these religions demonize or discredit anything that falls outside their dogmatic worldviews.
The titans are próteroi theoí, or the ‘earlier gods,’ not in a merely sequential sense wherein they precede the Olympians chronologically, but in a primordial sense that is suppressed and covered over by the minions of Zeus.
In Abrahamic religious fundamentalism—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—the spectral is often cast as demonic or false, posing a threat to the authority of divine revelation and the rigid moral systems these religions uphold. For instance, telepathy and precognition challenge the idea of individual agency and God’s omnipotence. By suppressing paranormal phenomena, religious institutions not only control spiritual experience but also keep their adherents bound to a fear-based worldview.
Jorjani argues that this relationship is parasitic because fundamentalist religions thrive on fear of the unknown and unexplained. By dismissing the spectral, they limit spiritual exploration and enforce a narrow, absolutist understanding of reality. This, in turn, stifles human potential, much as the mechanistic worldview of science limits the scope of inquiry by denying the paranormal any legitimacy.
Thus, both modern science and religious fundamentalism act as gatekeepers of knowledge, preventing humanity from fully engaging with the spectrum of experience that includes the paranormal. Jorjani calls for the acknowledgment of the spectral as essential to both scientific and spiritual growth, opening up new possibilities for human advancement.
A Vision for the Future: The Spectral Technology
In his closing chapters, Jorjani introduces the idea of “spectral technology”—a future where paranormal phenomena become the basis for technological advancement. This technology would be a fusion of art, science, and philosophy, transcending the mechanistic limitations of modern science. Spectral technology, he suggests, could unlock untapped human potential, allowing us to manipulate reality in ways that are currently unimaginable.
Jorjani envisions a future where humanity, armed with both Promethean knowledge and Atlas’s sense of responsibility, could evolve into something greater. This is not merely a utopian dream but a call for a new kind of science that embraces the mysteries of existence rather than suppressing them.
A Call to Embrace the ‘Spectral’
Prometheus and Atlas is a challenging and visionary work that asks us to rethink the very foundations of our scientific and philosophical worldview. Jorjani’s exploration of the Promethean and Atlantean archetypes offers a powerful metaphor for understanding the risks and rewards of technological progress, while his treatment of the paranormal opens up new avenues for inquiry into the nature of reality.
For those who are willing to explore the boundaries of science, philosophy, and myth, Prometheus and Atlas provides a compelling and thought-provoking roadmap for the future. Whether you are a philosopher, scientist, or simply a curious reader, this book will challenge your assumptions and broaden your horizons.
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