Philosophy of Mysticism by Jones, Richard H. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Copyright Contents Preface

Postmodernist Concerns Methodological Issues The Analytical Philosophical Approach

1 Mysticism and Mystical Experiences

Mystical Experiences Mystical Paths Extrovertive Mystical Experiences Mindfulness Introvertive Mystical Experiences Depth-Mystical Experiences Mystical Enlightenment A Typology of Mystical Experiences Weighting Mystical Experiences

2 Mystical Knowledge and Religious Ways of Life

Experience and Knowledge Are There Genuine Mystical Experiences? Attribution Theory The Depth-Mystical Experience and Its Conceptualizations Mystical Experiences and Mystical Ways of Life Constructivism Nonconstructivism Constructivism and the Depth-Mystical Experience Can the Constructivism Dispute be Resolved? The Possibility of Mystical Insight

3 Are Mystical Experiences Cognitive?

Can Nonmystics Judge the Veridicality of Mystical Experiences? What Can Mystics Claim to Know? Mysticism and Empiricism The Principle of Credulity The Analogy to Sense-Perception Problems of Justifying Specific Doctrinal Claims The Limitation of Any Mystical Claim to Knowledge Can Mystical Knowledge-Claims Be Compared? Do Mystical Knowledge-Claims Genuinely Conflict? Can One Mystical System Be Established as Best? Is It Rational to Accept Mystical Knowledge-Claims? “Properly Basic Beliefs” Ultimate Decisions

4 The Scientific Study of Mystics and Meditators

Scientific Study Versus Mystical Practices Are New Theories of the Mind Needed? Can Mystical Experiences Be Studied Scientifically? Scientific Explanations of Mystical Experiences Sociocultural Explanations of Mystical Experiences Explaining Away Mystical Experiences Problems with Sociocultural Explanations Problems with Physiological Explanations Do Natural Triggers Produce Mystical Experiences? Natural Phenomena and Mystical Insights The Compatibility Problem Applying Occam’s Razor Our Epistemic Situation Is Naturalism or a Transcendent Alternative More Plausible? The Neutrality of Science

5 Mysticism and Metaphysics

Mystical Metaphysics The Status of the World The Nature of Transcendent Realities Consciousness The Self The Question of Mystical Union Mysticism and the Closure of Mystery

6 Mysticism and Language

Ineffability The Mirror Theory of Language And Yet Mystics Continue to Talk An Analogy Silence Positive Characterizations of Transcendent Realities Mystical Utterances and Knowledge Negation Defending Mystical Discourse

7 Mysticism and Rationality

Rationality and Styles of Reasoning Paradox Resolving Paradoxes Understanding the Paradoxical Nagarjuna’s Reasoning Mysticism and the Question of Universal Reason

8 Mysticism and Science

Scientific and Mystical Approaches to Reality An Analogy Beingness and Science Mystical Experience Versus Scientific Measurement and Theorizing Indirect Avenues of Aid Science, Mysticism, and the Natural World The Difference in Content Science and Mystical Metaphysics Complementarity Reconciling Mysticism and Science

9 Mysticism and Morality

The Basic Question of Compatibility Are Mystics Necessarily Moral? Mystical Selflessness and the Presuppositions of Morality Emotions, Values, and Beliefs “You Are That” A Metaphysics of Wholeness and Morality Factual Beliefs, Values, and Mystical Experiences “Beyond Good and Evil” Will Any Actions Do? Mystical Decision-Making Mystical Selflessness and Morality

Epilogue: The Demise of Mysticism Today

The Antimystical Climate Today Accepting Mysticism Today A Mystical Revolution? A Thirst for Transcendence

Notes References and Further Reading Index Back Cover