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Understanding mystical experiences through the lens of entropy: introduction to the special issue on ‘mystical entropy’

Michiel van Elk

Philosophical Psychology April 27, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/09515089.2026.2662200 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical Peer reviewed
Topics Mysticism Mystical experience
Keywords Through-the-lens metering Lens geology Epistemology Aesthetics Cognitive science Psychoanalysis
Key points Argues that mystical experiences are culturally shaped and best understood through historical and comparative analysis rather than universalist frameworks.

Abstract

Scholars of religion have had a long-standing interest in the study of mystical experiences (Schmidt, 2003), dating back to the work of William James (James, 1902). James listed ineffability, noeti...

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