Redesigning Plato’s Cave: Experiment 2

Abstract

Experiment 1 had confirmed a number of important points for our project. First, we were able to elicit experiences of awe and wonder that replicated (or came close to) those articulated by the astronauts. Second, the specific combination of methods in a neurophenomenological framework showed potential as a way to explore those experiences. As we detailed in Chapter 4, however, the first experiment presented some methodological challenges along the way. In this chapter, we describe how we responded to the lessons learned from Experiment 1. We describe our second experiment and develop a style for data integration that considers physiology, psychology, and phenomenology as a combination of approaches that can offer a precise triangulation on the experiences in question.