Feasibility of the Mechanistic Explanation in the Case of Near-Death Experiences: Nothing but a Reductionism?
Synthese Library/Synthese library January 1, 2026 Michał Oleksowicz
The new mechanistic philosophy (NMP) explains phenomena by identifying mechanisms as organized complex systems, not as a form of metaphysical reductionism. The author argues that near-death experiences (NDEs), categorized as religious experiences, can be approached within this framework. While scholars like Egil Asprem and Ann Taves contend that mechanistic explanation can illuminate the explanation of religion, the author emphasizes its limits in this context and highlights epistemic-methodological advantages over alternative models proposed by Michael Marsh, Frederick Barrett, and Roland Griffiths.