Page 57 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

Clearly the doctrine of opposites was a basic philosophy of the Egyptians, being connected with
not only the Gods of their Mystery dramas, but with their Cosmology, and since this connection
makes the doctrine one of the earliest in the development of Egyptian thought, it antedates the
reign of Menes, and means that the Egyptians were familiar with it before 3000 B.C.

Under these circumstances and in consequence of these facts, the Egyptian Mystery System was
the source of the doctrines (a) of the atom and (b) of opposites. Leucippus and Democritus taught
nothing new and must have obtained their knowledge of the doctrines from the Egyptians,
directly or indirectly.

(iii) The Doctrines of the universal distribution of fire atoms, and their emanation from external
objects are derived from Magic

These doctrines are magical and express the magical principle "that the qualities of animals or
things are distributed throughout all their parts." (Dr. Frazer's Golden Bough). Consequently
within the universe contact is established between objects through emanations, and in the case of
human beings, the result might be sensation or cognition; healing or contagion.

This principle is demonstrated not only by the cures such as were affected by the garment of
Christ, and the handkerchiefs of St. Paul: but also by the modern scientific and medical practice
of the preventive measure of quarantine. It must be remembered that magic was part of the
education of the Egyptian priests: for the religious rites and ceremonies of the Egyptians were
magical; and the priests were the custodians of the knowledge.

(iv) A fourth point is the fact that in the history and compilation of Greek philosophy by
Aristotle and his followers, there are only two men whose names are associated with the
authorship of an extraordinary number of scientific books; and the names of these men are
Democritus himself and Aristotle. (Diogenes Laertius Bk. 9 p. 445–461; Bk. 5 p. 465–467).

(v) A fifth point which deserves important mention is the fact that in the history and compilation
of Greek philosophy by Aristotle and his followers, it has been discovered that wherever there
has been the possession of a large collection of scientific books, there has also been direct or
indirect association with Alexander the Great.

(vi) The association between Democritus and Alexander the Great is seen through the
Democritean Circle; a succession of Teachers and students, from a common original Teacher:—
Democritus (420–316 B.C.) is said to have taught Metrodorus of Chios, who in turn is said to
have taught Anaxarchus, who is said to have flourished at the time of the 110th Olympiad (340–
337 B.C.), and to have accompanied Alexander the Great on his campaign against Egypt 333
B.C.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook