Prolegomenon to a philosophy of meditation
Filozofija i Društvo 2025 DOI: 10.2298/fid2504911r (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation Mysticism Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Metaphysics Paranormal Philosophy of religion Consciousness Epistemology Transcendence philosophy Spiritual practice Western philosophy Contemporary philosophy |
| Key points | Argues that meditative practices are one of the most powerful forms of spiritual and philosophical practice. |
Abstract
This prolegomenon sketches issues central to a philosophy of meditation, develops only some of them here, and refers readers to other works where some not covered here are addressed. A complete philosophy of meditation would include accounts of: the differences between meditative practices, states, and traits; religion-based meditative traditions; novel contemporary meditative practices and research; meditative practices that are and aren?t philosophical practices and vice versa; ?McMindfulness?; whether any such practices reveal metaphysical truths or lead to enlightenment; what physics/metaphysics might make the paranormal corollaries of mystical experiences possible; and the pros and cons of these issues. The author shares some personal experiences, speculative hypotheses, and arguments for the central claim that meditative practices are one of the most powerful forms of spiritual and philosophical practice.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation Journal of Clinical Psychology 2006
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
- The Varieties of Spiritual Experience August 18, 2022
- The case for a contemplative philosophy of education New Directions for Community Colleges September 1, 2010
- Meditation Matters: Replies to the Anti-McMindfulness Bandwagon! Mindfulness in behavioral health 2016
and 4 more in the library