Love as the Achievement of Mystical Experience by Bergson and Iqbal: A Critical Appraisal
Sobia Tahir, Miss Mehak Maqbool, Sidra Maqsood
UCP Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences December 20, 2024 DOI: 10.24312/ucp-jhss.03.01.261 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative and analytic paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Psychoanalysis Critical appraisal Epistemology Theology |
| Key findings | The authors express serious reservations about the nature of love as described by Bergson and Iqbal, questioning its ontology and the claim that it is a form of knowledge that rivals intellect. |
Abstract
Henry Bergson (1859-1941) and Mohammad Iqbal (1877-1938) wished to establish religious truth on firm grounds beyond any doubt. For this purpose, both relied heavily on Religious or Mystical Experience, which is direct and doubt-free. However, the next and most important question is: What does the mystic achieve from this experience? The answer is “Knowledge”--- but what is the nature of this knowledge and how does it differ from other types of knowledge? Why and how does the mystic (or Prophet) use it? Both Iqbal and Bergson name it ‘Love’, which is a Life-force, Energy and a ‘Transforming power’ with the help of which the person having undergone the experience revolutionises and changes the character of mankind. This paper has the objective to analyse the nature of this love, of which the ontology is dubious, therefore, its own claims may be uncertain too. Moreover, the approach of Iqbal to present love as an opponent or rival of knowledge and intellect has been questioned. Additionally to which extent these views are compatible with Qur’an have also been discussed at length. The methodology is qualitative and analytic and the authors have shown serious reservations on the nature of love in the findings.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The nature of peak experience in wilderness. Participants who had visited wilderness areas in Victoria, Australia, recruited via a... | 2009 | Qualitative study | n = 39 |
| Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions Individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing... | 2017 | Survey and qualitative/quantitative analysis | n = 10 |
| Cannabis as entheogen: survey and interview data on the spiritual use of cannabis. Participants recruited from seven online communities, median age 33, 81% male | 2020 | Mixed methods (qualitative interviews and quantitative survey) | n = 319 |
| Clarifying and measuring the characteristics of experiences that involve a loss of self or a dissolution of its boundaries. Adults who reported an experience involving dissolution of self-boundaries or loss of... | 2024 | Cross-sectional survey with confirmatory factor analysis and qualitative thematic analysis | n = 386 |
| The developmental impact of not integrating childhood peak experiences Adults recalling their childhood peak experiences | 2007 | Qualitative study | n = 12 |