- April 11th, 2025, 2:08 pm
#473681
This topic is about the April 2025 Philosophy Book of the Month, On Spirits: The World Hidden Volume II by Dr. Joseph M. Feagan
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Traditionally, science has relied on methods that emphasise objectivity, repeatability, and sensory data. However, many spiritual phenomena—such as the transformative experiences reported by shamans—challenge these conventional boundaries. Philosophers like Ken Wilber argue that the scientific method might be expanded to include what he calls “spiritual empiricism”. This form of inquiry does not discard the rigour of scientific thought but rather augments it by incorporating direct, subjective experience (often accessible through meditative or shamanic practices) as a legitimate form of data. Neurophenomenological studies already begin to map correlations between meditative states and measurable brain activity. In this way, the boundary between subjective insight and objective measurement might become porous. Such an approach calls for a methodological pluralism in which both external observation and inner experience are seen as complementary paths to understanding reality.
What are your thoughts? Can science and spirituality be integrated and broaden the area of understanding, or will it be a way to lose credibility in science?
Traditionally, science has relied on methods that emphasise objectivity, repeatability, and sensory data. However, many spiritual phenomena—such as the transformative experiences reported by shamans—challenge these conventional boundaries. Philosophers like Ken Wilber argue that the scientific method might be expanded to include what he calls “spiritual empiricism”. This form of inquiry does not discard the rigour of scientific thought but rather augments it by incorporating direct, subjective experience (often accessible through meditative or shamanic practices) as a legitimate form of data. Neurophenomenological studies already begin to map correlations between meditative states and measurable brain activity. In this way, the boundary between subjective insight and objective measurement might become porous. Such an approach calls for a methodological pluralism in which both external observation and inner experience are seen as complementary paths to understanding reality.
What are your thoughts? Can science and spirituality be integrated and broaden the area of understanding, or will it be a way to lose credibility in science?
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”
– William James
– William James
- By Catarina Silva_
- By Pattern-chaser