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Matter, Mind and Meaning — Occult Philosophy

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Matter, Mind and Meaning

Name: Matter, Mind and Meaning
Price: 57.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781138825130

✍️ Carington, Whately

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1949 empirical investigation into the philosophical foundations of psychical research, mind, and language.

This work re-examines traditional metaphysical debates about mind and matter through the lens of radical empiricism. Carington focuses on how words derive meaning from experienceable entities, arguing that many classic philosophical dilemmas are simply linguistic errors. By dismantling these pseudo-problems, the text establishes a foundation of neutral monism to clear the path for psychical research. It offers a concise, accessible entrance into empiricist thought without heavy technical jargon.

Key Themes

foundations of psychical research neutral monism and empiricism language and meaning

Literary Context

First published in 1949, this text belongs to the twentieth-century revival of empiricist philosophy. It intersects early modern psychical research with logical and linguistic approaches to metaphysics.

Carington, Whately

📚 all books by this author (4) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Bertrand Russell · William James · Aldous Huxley

🕯️

Occult Philosophy

🏛 Routledge 📅 2016 📖 282 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781138825130

Fun Fact

Carington's work is a masterclass in philosophical clarity, employing a 'pithy and sparkling' style to demystify complex issues. It excels at introducing empiricist philosophy and providing a rational bedrock for psychical inquiry. Those seeking elaborate speculative metaphysics or practical occult techniques will be disappointed, but readers desiring intellectual rigor and a fresh perspective on mind-matter dilemmas will find it an invaluable and surprisingly accessible text.

📝 Description: Matter, Mind and Meaning

Originally published in 1949, this volume addresses the philosophical foundations of psychical research. Carington argues that traditional metaphysical theories create insoluble problems regarding the nature of mind, matter, and their relationship. He attributes these issues to basic misconceptions about how language acquires meaning. By demonstrating how words connect directly to experienceable entities, he attempts to clear away pseudo-problems and show that traditional metaphysical theories are literally nonsensical. The resulting philosophy is a radically empirical form of neutral monism. Written in a pithy and sparkling style with minimal technical jargon, the work clears the decks for psychical research while introducing empiricist philosophy. Carington uses this empirical framework to evaluate mind, matter, and meaning, making the book suitable for students of psychical research and readers following the revival of empiricist philosophy. It is less suited to readers looking for purely practical guides or traditional metaphysical systems that rely on non-empirical assumptions.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Carington presents a dense, argumentative text that demands patience from the reader. While his defense of neutral monism is logically consistent within its own empirical framework, it may alienate readers seeking spiritual inspiration or practical magical techniques. The book’s strength lies in its rigorous deconstruction of linguistic misunderstandings, yet this very academic focus renders it inaccessible to casual readers of occultism. Those expecting traditional esoteric wisdom or mystical anecdotes will likely find the experience dry and frustrating. However, for students of philosophy of mind and serious researchers in psychical studies, it remains a valuable, if demanding, contribution to the discourse on the nature of reality.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is essential for the intellectually curious occultist who refuses to accept mystical claims without philosophical grounding. Carington offers a refreshing, rational approach to psychical research, stripping away dogma to reveal the empirical core of mind-matter relationships. Readers who appreciate precise linguistic analysis and the dissolution of metaphysical confusion will find profound clarity here. It serves as an ideal bridge for those interested in esoteric traditions but constrained by logical rigor. By clarifying how language shapes our perception of reality, it empowers readers to engage with psychical phenomena through a lens of neutral monism. This is not for those seeking emotional comfort or supernatural validation, but for the seeker who desires intellectual honesty and a coherent framework for understanding the mysteries of consciousness and experience.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the philosophical underpinnings of psychic phenomena, or simply seek a fresh, empirical perspective on age-old problems of mind and matter, this book offers a lucid and engaging entry point into a surprisingly practical philosophy.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Carington presents a dense, argumentative text that demands patience from the reader. While his defense of neutral monism is logically consistent within its own empirical framework, it may alienate readers seeking spiritual inspiration or practical magical techniques. The book’s strength lies in its rigorous deconstruction of linguistic misunderstandings, yet this very academic focus renders it inaccessible to casual readers of occultism. Those expecting traditional esoteric wisdom or mystical anecdotes will likely find the experience dry and frustrating. However, for students of philosophy of mind and serious researchers in psychical studies, it remains a valuable, if demanding, contribution to the discourse on the nature of reality.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While it establishes a vital philosophical framework for Psychical Research, its core arguments on language, meaning, and reality are equally valuable for anyone interested in empiricist philosophy.

He promotes a 'radically empirical' perspective, suggesting that philosophical dilemmas often dissolve when we rigorously analyze the empirical basis of our language, leading to a form of Neutral Monism.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Language and Reality

Carington argues that many deep philosophical quandaries, particularly those surrounding mind and matter, arise not from fundamental truths but from how we misuse or misunderstand our language. By examining the experiential roots of words, he reveals how meaning shapes our perception of reality and its inherent problems.

Mind-Matter Connection

Traditional metaphysics often struggles to reconcile the distinct natures of mind and matter. This book posits that these seemingly intractable problems are illusory, dissolving once we correctly apprehend the relationship between our conceptual vocabulary and the sensory data it represents, paving the way for a unified understanding.

Radical Empiricism

The author champions a philosophy grounded entirely in sensory experience, rejecting abstract metaphysical constructs that lack empirical grounding. This approach, culminating in a form of Neutral Monism, suggests that what we perceive as 'mind' and 'matter' are ultimately manifestations of a single, unified, and experienceable reality.

📜 Historical context

Published in 1949, this work emerged during a vibrant revival of Empiricist Philosophy. It aimed to provide a rigorous philosophical foundation for Psychical Research by dismantling 'pseudo-problems' that hindered its acceptance, aligning with approaches like Neutral Monism to offer a unified, experience-based worldview.

📚 Glossary

Psychical Research
Neutral Monism
Empiricism

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a complex concept you often ponder (e.g., consciousness, free will). How might your choice of words influence your understanding or framing of this concept?
Carington suggests many philosophical problems are 'nonsensical.' Can you identify a 'pseudo-problem' in your own thinking that might dissolve with a more precise definition of terms?
If all knowledge must stem from 'experienceable entities,' how does this impact the study of phenomena that are inherently subjective or difficult to quantify, such as psychic abilities?