Abstract This chapter refers to the “hard problem of consciousness”, as discussed by David Chalmers, and its peculiar difficulties. Following Chalmers’s decade long work on the ontological riddles posed by the mind-body-problem, the chapter concludes Chalmers’s objective to find a naturalist theory of mind and matter might not be as impossible as estimated by Chalmers himself—at least not if we...
Mental monism is the philosophical theory that ultimate reality comprises only conscious minds. (It is usually identified with subjective idealism, but there are differing readings of that term, so “mental monism” is preferred.) This is a relatively neglected framework for examining the embodiment of consciousness in physical objects such as brains and computers. There is, however, growing...
Indian philosophy offers one of the earliest and most profound enquiries into consciousness and cognition. The Vedic understanding of consciousness is fundamentally cosmological and sacrificial, highlighting Ṛta (cosmic order) and the interconnectedness of the individual and the universe. The Upaniṣads expand on this foundation by providing a deeper metaphysical exploration, centring on Ātman...
Burnout is highly prevalent among physicians and has intensified since the COVID-19 crisis. Although mindfulness-based programs can reduce stress, they often require extensive training, show variable adherence, and do not fully address emotional or existential dimensions. Meditative relaxation is a structured multimodal mind-body approach integrating attentional, sensory, physiological, and...
Breathing, beyond its metabolic role, has been increasingly implicated in shaping perception, attention, and aspects of cognitive processing. Here, we propose the Rhythmic Embodied Perception (REP) Framework, a multi-level framework linking body and brain to explain how respiration structures conscious experience. At the neurophysiological level, slow respiratory cycles modulate cortical...
Altered states of consciousness range from psychotic disintegration to mystical union, with oceanic affectivity - experiences of ego dissolution, boundlessness, and affective merging - constituting a central feature. While such states can be induced by psychedelics, they also occur through trauma, meditative practices, or within compulsive addictive cycles. In addition, oceanic states may offer...
Modern psychotherapy increasingly integrates multimodal and process-based approaches designed to respond to the complexity of contemporary clinical presentations. This paper introduces a three-pillar psychotherapeutic model combining (1) a revised cognitive behavioral foundation, (2) consciousness activation techniques derived from hypnosis, and (3) yoga-inspired postural and interoceptive...
While microdosing psychedelics is increasingly popular for enhancing well-being, its effects on health behavior change (HBC) remain poorly understood. This study investigated self-reported health-related behavior changes and putative underlying psychological mechanisms associated with psychedelic microdosing in a naturalistic setting. A retrospective mixed-method survey was conducted with 365...
This chapter explores the transformative power of philosophical wonder and its potential to foster a deeper connection with the world and the self. It examines the role of wonder in philosophical practice concerning figures such as Socrates, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Buber understood from an “apophatic” perspective. From this perspective, the chapter distinguishes between different forms of...
Creativity in human societies may be sustained not by isolated minds but by embodied, collective intelligence. Using music as a tractable model system, this paper reviews evidence that creativity depends on the dynamic tuning of uncertainty: moderate, time-varying surprise-often accompanied by interoceptive bodily sensations-can promote exploration, while interpersonal synchrony and social...