A MYSTICISM

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Louw Feenstra's paper, "Mystical Experience as an Empirical Fact: Perception, Meaning, Insight", co-authored with Nico Tydeman, offers a philosophical exploration of mystical experiences through the lens of epistemology. Published in Ludus Vitalis in 2011, the paper delves into the nature of mystical experiences, proposing that they can be understood as a distinct form of perception.(PhilPapers, Academia)

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📘 Chapter Bullet Gist

• Epistemological Foundations: The authors examine the peculiarities of the senses and the conflicting worldviews of science and religion, aiming to structure the diverse views on mysticism across cultures.(Academia)

• Mysticism as Perception: They argue that mystical experiences should be considered a special kind of perception, challenging traditional dichotomies between objective and subjective realities.

• Cultural Perspectives: The paper brings structure to the many views, contradictions, and similarities about mysticism across cultures, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to understanding these experiences.(ludus-vitalis.org)

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✨ Key Quotes

• "We try to bring some structure into the many views, contradictions, and similarities about mysticism across cultures, which we—from the very start—take as a special kind of perception."(Academia)

• "This review is one step farther into our reflections on the fringes of epistemology."(Academia)

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🧠 Insights

• Perception and Mysticism: The authors suggest that mystical experiences are not merely subjective or religious phenomena but can be understood as a form of perception, offering a new perspective on how these experiences are studied and interpreted.

• Interdisciplinary Approach: By integrating insights from various disciplines, Feenstra and Tydeman provide a comprehensive framework for understanding mystical experiences, bridging gaps between science and spirituality.(Erasmus University Rotterdam)

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For a deeper understanding, you can access the full paper here: (ludus-vitalis.org).