Near-Death Experiences: A Critique of the Fischer and Mitchell-Yellin Physicalist Interpretation
The Journal of near-death studies January 1, 2017 Mays Mays 14 citations
A critique of Fischer and Mitchell-Yellin's physicalist explanation of near-death experiences (NDEs) identifies two major weaknesses: heavy reliance on ad hoc hypotheses and frequent appeal to promissory materialism. The authors argue that labeling NDEs as hallucinations is problematic because NDE perceptions differ phenomenologically from hallucinations, are often veridical regarding the physical realm, and pathologizing them risks harmful psychological outcomes. They propose a common proximate cause for all NDEs, suggesting the nonphysical mind-entity theory—where the nonmaterial mind separates from the body—has good explanatory power. They contend that scientific inquiry will eventually expand physicalist theory into an extended, transmaterial naturalism.