Summary
Mysticism is characterized by the spontaneous or deliberate attainment of specialized knowledge, which challenges the parameters of positivist science by virtue of its subjective and paradoxical nature. Mysticism locates the origin of knowing in the prehension of non-sensory experience, and conceptualizes reality as flux or process. Epistemological considerations of mysticism extend traditional psychological concern with mystical experience as an object of scientific inquiry. Beyond the constraints of scientism, framings of mystical knowledge from intuitionist, radical empiricist and postmodern standpoints highlight process, plurality and paradox in epistemological formulation. In a changing climate of increasing cross-cultural and interdisciplinary influence at metatheoretical levels, mysticism provokes radical epistemological re-evaluation. This is particularly necessary wherever mainstream psychology continues to limit, misinterpret or pathologize the spectrum of human experience and knowing.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baker, W. J., Mos, L. P., van Rappard, H., and Stam, H. J. (Eds) (1988). Recent trends in theoretical psychology. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Broadribb, D. (1995). The mystical chorus: Jung and the religious dimension. New York: Millennium Books.
Deikman, A. J. (1982). The observing self Mysticism and psychotherapy. Boston: Beacon Press.
Durant, W. (1961). The story of philosophy: The lives and opinions of the great philosophers of the western world. NewYork: Simon and Schuster.
Forman, R. K. C. (1990). The problem of pure consciousness: Mysticism and philosophy. New York: Oxford University Press.
Frankenberry, N. (1987). Religion and radical empiricism. New York: State University of New York Press.
Griffin, D. R. (Ed.) (1990). Sacred interconnections: Postmodern spirituality, political economy and art. New York: State University of New York Press.
Hall, D. L. (1982). The uncertain phoenix. New York: Fordham University Press.
Heelas, P. and Lock, A. (1981). Indigenous psychologies: The anthropology of the self. London: Academic Press.
James, W. (1985/1902). The varieties of religious experience. Cambridge MA.: Harvard University Press.
Katz, S. T. (1978). Language, epistemology and mysticism. In S. T. Katz (Ed.), Mysticism and philosophical analysis (pp 22–74 ). New York: Oxford University Press.
Kvale, S. (Ed.) (1992). Psychology and postmodernism. London: Sage Publications.
Lundin, R. W. (1991). Theories and systems of psychology. (4th ed.). Lexington MA: D. C. Heath and Co.
Madsen, K. B. (1988). A history of psychology in metascientific perspective. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishing.
Neher, A. (1980). The psychology of transcendence. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
O’Brian, E. (1964). Varieties of religious experience. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Oxford English Dictionary. ( 1933 ). London: Oxford University Press.
Parrinder, G. (1976). Mysticism in the world’s religions. London: Sheldon Press.
Sells, M. A. (1994). Mystical languages of unsaying. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Shapiro, D. H., Jr. and Walsh, R. N. (Eds) (1984). Meditation.: Classic and contemporary perspectives. New York: Aldine.
Smart, N. (1965). Interpretation and mystical experience. Religious Studies, 1, 75–87.
Spilka, B., Hood, R.W. and Gorsuch, R.L. (1985). The psychology of religion: An empirical approach. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Stace, W.T. (1960). The teachings of the mystics. New York: Mentor.
Walsh, R. N. and Vaughan, F. (1980). Beyond ego: Transpersonal dimensions in psychology. Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, Inc.
Whitehead, A.N. (1964). Science and philosophy. Paterson, NJ: Littlefield, Adams and Co. Whitehead, A.N. (1978). Process and reality. New York: The Free Press.
Wilber, K. (1983). Eye to eye: The quest for the new paradigm. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books. Woods, R. (1981). Understanding mysticism. London: The Athlone Press.
Wulff, D. (1991). The psychology of religion: Classic and contemporary views. New York: Wiley.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jones, L.S. (2001). Epistemological Framings of Mysticism: Implications for Contemporary Western Psychology. In: Morss, J.R., Stephenson, N., van Rappard, H. (eds) Theoretical Issues in Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6817-6_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6817-6_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-4890-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-6817-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive