Analysis of Recent Objections to the Traditional Near-Death Experience Argument for a Transphysical Self
Journal of Near-Death Studies January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-2023-41-3-p202-238 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe author defends the traditional argument that near-death experiences point to a transphysical self—a self not reducible to brain activity—and responds to recent naturalist objections from researchers such as Borjigin and Vicente, who argue that such experiences can be explained by physiological processes. The paper engages with objections accumulated over the last decade, aiming to show that the transphysical interpretation remains viable despite alternative naturalist accounts.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Philosophy |
| Key finding | Argues that naturalist objections to the transphysical self interpretation of near-death experiences are insufficient and that the traditional argument remains defensible. |
Abstract
: In this paper, I defend the traditional argument for a transphysi-cal self from near-death experiences and respond to prominent objections in the literature that have accrued over the last decade, including naturalist interpretations by Borjigin et al., Vicente et al.