The Uncommonness of the Common Core
Oxford University Press eBooks June 22, 2026 Ralph W. Hood, Malynda Clark
This chapter examines the common core thesis of mystical experience by situating contemporary empirical psychology within the longer intellectual history of psychology, philosophy, and theology. It traces how William James and Walter Stace defend the distinction between experience and interpretation, establishing a foundation for cross-cultural, phenomenological, and psychometric study, while critics such as McGinn and Wulff question the adequacy of measurement approaches. The chapter argues that psychology's embrace of positivist empiricism narrows its scope and excludes transcendent phenomena, contrasting this reductionism with historical and philosophical perspectives that affirm the ontological and epistemological significance of mystical experience. It argues for methodological pluralism that integrates empirical, philosophical, and theological approaches to investigate transcendent experience without reducing it to pathology or cultural construction.