This philosophical and occult treatise explores complex metaphysical ideas, blending religion, science, and mysticism. It examines profound topics such as the nature of the soul, the existence of God, and the workings of the universe, all framed within paradoxes that challenge conventional thinking. The text aims to stimulate deep reflection on the highest truths, questioning the limits of human understanding and the mysteries of existence.
Elephas Levi (the pen name of Abbé Louis Constant, 1810-1875) was one of the leading occultists of the 19th century. For most of his life he was a Roman Catholic priest; even after he was defrocked in 1844, his views continued to have a strong Catholic influence. His books, translated into English after his death, were essential to the development of other occultists such as Albert Pike, Helena Blavatsky, A.E. Waite, and Aleister Crowley.
"Paradoxes of the Highest Science" was the first of Levi's books to be translated into English. (The original French version was published in 1856.) This edition reprints the 1883 text issued by the Theosophical Society (translated by Anonymous) and includes the 1922 commentary by "an Eminent Occultist" (perhaps Helena P. Blavatsky).
In addition to "Paradoxes of the Highest Science," this edition includes two more essays by Levi, "Synthetic Recapitulation" and "The Great Secret."