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Experimental Religion – Transpersonal Psychology as "science of religions” sensu William James

Edgar W. Harnack

2009 DOI: 10.23668/psycharchives.14734 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper
Key points Argues that transpersonal psychology's defining feature is the premise of transcendence as a research axiom, distinguishing it from mainstream psychology of religion, and that this relationship parallels that of critical psychology to mainstream psychology.

Abstract

Transpersonal Psychology is reconstructed theoretically under aspects of William James' philosophy, one of its historic precursors, and is described in terms of its real appearance. Thereby the essential characteristic of transpersonal in relation to mainstream psychology of religion can be shown as premise of transcendence as a research axiom. The relation between both research traditions can be seen in analogy to critical psychology's relation to the mainstream.