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Mysticism and Morality

William J. Wainwright

March 2, 2017 DOI: 10.4324/9781315244778-20 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper
Topics Mysticism
Citations 20
Key points Argues that the evidence for a positive relationship between mysticism and morality is more ambiguous than commonly claimed, challenging the dominant view that mysticism supports morality and noting that some scholars see mystical consciousness as incompatible with morality.

Abstract

Most of those who have studied mysticism believe that there is a significant relationship between mysticism and morality. Albert Schweitzer, Arthur Danto, and others think that mystical consciousness is incompatible with morality. The dominant view, however, is that mysticism supports it. Steven T. Katz is typical: “As an historical observation, it is difficult to find any major mystical figures, or mystical traditions, that can be said to preach moral indifference; and certainly none preach immorality.”1 But the evidence is actually much more ambiguous than Katz’s remarks suggest.

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience 2000 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis 1983 Theoretical or philosophical paper
The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy 1993 Edited collection of essays
Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century 2020 Theoretical or philosophical paper
Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. 2016 Theoretical or philosophical paper

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Cited by 3

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Mysticism Philosophy of mind