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The Curious Case Of Frederick Soddy And The Forgotten Race Of Men

The Curious Case Of Frederick Soddy And The Forgotten Race Of Men

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In 1921, Frederick Soddy won the Noble Prize in chemistry for his research into radioactive substances and his studies of isotopes, yet curiously this Oxford scientist mused about a “forgotten race of men”. What were the relations between Soddy, the Theosophical Society of Madame Blavatsky and Atlantis, if any? There have been many speculations on the theme of highly advanced ancient knowledge, leading to an abundant number of works that border, unintentionally, on fiction. Authors such as Charles Hapgood, for example, put forward conjectures as to lost ancient civilizations that were capable of mapping the entire globe. While his work, Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings: Evidence of Advanced Civilization in the Ice Age, was motivated by a genuine interest in the principles of early mapmaking, Hapgood's speculations far exceeded the available evidence.

Map of "Mercury" as described in "The Worm Ouroboros" by E.R. Eddison (David Bedell/ CC BY-SA 3.0)

Map of "Mercury" as described in "The Worm Ouroboros" by E.R. Eddison (David Bedell/ CC BY-SA 3.0)

These kinds of fantastic visions into the remote past of human civilizations — and the idea of lost technological knowledge — have a long and peculiar history, engaging not only writers on the fringe, but also sober scientists. Radium, despite its distinction of being radioactively luminescent, is not a substance that one readily connects with mysticism; but through a peculiar series of connections between science, speculation, and spiritual beliefs, one can trace a direct line from a scholarly work on the characteristics of radium from the Oxford professor Frederick Soddy’s The Interpretation of Radium and the Structure of the Atom, all the way to the Theosophical doctrines of Blavatsky and ideas on lost knowledge.

Helena Blavatksy’s Theosophical Society

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was born Helena von Hahn in what is today Ukraine, and became known simply as Madame Blavatsky. Details of her early life after her departure from Russia are uncertain, although there are various accounts of her traveling everywhere from Canada to Tibet. In 1873, she arrived in New York, and it was there that her spiritual activities began in earnest. During her subsequent career, she made many claims concerning psychic abilities, including telepathy and clairvoyance. Not long after her move to New York, she put together the first of several books, Isis Unveiled.

Founder of the Theosophical Society Elena Petrovna Gan (HP Blavatsky), born in Russia 1831 - died in England 1891 (Public Domain)

Founder of the Theosophical Society Elena Petrovna Gan (HP Blavatsky), born in Russia 1831 - died in England 1891 (Public Domain)

In 1875, Blavatsky and two colleagues founded the Theosophical Society.

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Dr Benjamin B. Olshin is a Professor (ret) of Philosophy, the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, and Design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include sociology of science and technology, design, Eastern / Western philosophy, as well as cross-cultural management. His latest book is: Lost Knowledge: The Concept of Vanished Technologies and Other Human Histories.

Top Image: Ancient town ruins. Underwater background. Was Atlantis actually in India? Source: Regisser.com /Adobe Stock

By Dr Benjamin B. Olshin

 

Benjamin

Dr Benjamin B. Olshin is a former Professor of Philosophy, the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, and Design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He is a Fulbright scholar with over a decade experience in international consulting, research, education/training, and design... Read More

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