Investigating the Structure of Religious Concepts
Matylda Ciołkosz
Open Theology February 23, 2016 DOI: 10.1515/opth-2016-0007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the theory of embodied cognition and the category of image schemata can be productively applied to the study of religious concepts within the Cognitive Science of Religion, and proposes that a case study of sāṃkhya-yoga darśana categories in Iyengar Yoga illustrates this applicability. |
Abstract
Abstract: The aim of the paper is to discuss the possible application of the theory of embodied cognition and the category of image schemata to the study of religious concepts within the Cognitive Science of Religion. Departing from the notion of counterintuitiveness and Boyer’s description of religious representations as minimally counterintuitive, the author briefly discusses the critique of this approach. Subsequently, different models of mind and cognition within the Cognitive Science are summarised, with special attention given to the enactive approach, as proposed by Varela, Thompson and Rosch. The notion of embodied meaning, situated within enactivism, is then discussed, together with Johnson’s concept of image schemata as basic semantic units. To discuss the applicability of image schemata in the study of religious concepts, the author summarises a case study, related to the interpretation of the categories of sāṃkhya-yoga darśana in Iyengar Yoga.