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Matter, Mind and Meaning — Occult Philosophy

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Matter, Mind and Meaning

Name: Matter, Mind and Meaning
Price: 200.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781138824911

✍️ Carington, Whately

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Whately Carington’s profound work challenges conventional thought, positing that many enduring metaphysical conundrums surrounding mind, matter, and their interaction aren't inherent, but rather linguistic. By meticulously analyzing how language connects to direct experience, he exposes these traditional philosophical quandaries as meaningless semantic illusions. This radically empirical approach, termed Neutral Monism, seeks to provide a clear, unburdened foundation for understanding psychic phenomena and offers a remarkably lucid introduction to empiricist thought for any discerning reader.

Carington, Whately

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🕯️

Occult Philosophy

🏛 Routledge 📅 2014 📖 282 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781138824911

Fun Fact

Carington's *Matter, Mind and Meaning* is a revelation, cutting through centuries of philosophical entanglement with elegant precision. Its strength lies in demystifying complex concepts, making it an ideal entry point for empiricism and philosophical inquiry into the paranormal. While it might disappoint those seeking mystical pronouncements, it offers intellectual rigor and clarity, firmly establishing itself as a foundational text for anyone serious about understanding the true nature of reality through linguistic re-evaluation.

📝 Description: Matter, Mind and Meaning

This volume is concerned with the philosophical foundations of Psychical Research. Traditional metaphysical theories have led to apparently insoluble problems concerning the nature of mind, of matter and the relation between the two. The author holds that these theories arise from misconception about the way in which words acquire meaning. His aim is to show that once the relation between words and the experienceable entities which they mean is clearly understood, these seemingly insoluble problems disappear, and the metaphysical theories which give rise to them are seen to be literally nonsensical. The philosophy which results is a radically empirical one, a form of Neutral Monism. The book intended to 'clear the decks' for Psychical Research by removing certain traditional pseudo-problems, but it will be of interest to all who followed the revival of Empiricist Philosophy, whether they are students of Psychical Research or not. It is written in a pithy and sparkling style, with a minimum of technical terms, and serves as an introduction to Empiricist Philosophy. Originally published 1949.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Carington’s work is a compelling, albeit dense, exploration of how language shapes our perception of reality. It successfully demystifies enduring metaphysical conundrums by attributing them to semantic illusions rather than inherent ontological problems. However, this book does not suit readers seeking straightforward mystical guides or those uncomfortable with rigorous philosophical analysis. Those looking for practical spells or simple dogmatic beliefs will find little here. It is best reserved for the intellectually curious who enjoy dissecting the mechanics of thought and language. While its empiricist approach may feel dry to some, its contribution to clarifying psychic phenomena through neutral monism is undeniably significant for serious students of esoteric philosophy.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of linguistics, metaphysics, and psychic phenomena will find this text indispensable. Whately Carington offers a radical yet lucid path for those tired of traditional philosophical conundrums that feel stuck in semantic loops. If you are seeking a clear, unburdened foundation for understanding how mind and matter interact through the lens of direct experience, this book provides exactly that. It appeals to the discerning reader who values rigorous empirical thought but remains open to the mysteries of the occult. By exposing metaphysical issues as linguistic illusions, Carington empowers you to see beyond conventional thought and appreciate the profound clarity of neutral monism in explaining psychic reality.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

For seekers of clarity in metaphysics, students of empiricism, or anyone exploring psychic phenomena from a rigorous philosophical angle. If you question fundamental assumptions about reality and language, this profound text invites you to dismantle conceptual barriers and redefine your…

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Carington’s work is a compelling, albeit dense, exploration of how language shapes our perception of reality. It successfully demystifies enduring metaphysical conundrums by attributing them to semantic illusions rather than inherent ontological problems. However, this book does not suit readers seeking straightforward mystical guides or those uncomfortable with rigorous philosophical analysis. Those looking for practical spells or simple dogmatic beliefs will find little here. It is best reserved for the intellectually curious who enjoy dissecting the mechanics of thought and language. While its empiricist approach may feel dry to some, its contribution to clarifying psychic phenomena through neutral monism is undeniably significant for serious students of esoteric philosophy.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While originally conceived to provide a philosophical bedrock for psychical research, its broader scope delves into the very nature of meaning and metaphysics. It offers a profound exploration of empiricist philosophy relevant to any thoughtful reader, not just those interested in the paranormal.

Absolutely not. Carington deliberately employs a clear, concise, and engaging prose style, minimizing jargon. It’s designed to be accessible, making complex philosophical ideas digestible even for those new to empiricism, without sacrificing intellectual rigor.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Linguistic Philosophy & Metaphysics

This work posits that many enduring philosophical puzzles concerning existence and consciousness stem not from reality itself, but from our flawed understanding of language. Carington meticulously demonstrates how clarifying the link between our words and their experiential referents can dissolve age-old metaphysical dilemmas, revealing them as semantic illusions rather than genuine quandaries.

Empiricism & Psychic Phenomena

Carington advocates for a robustly empirical framework, particularly for investigating psychical phenomena. By stripping away pre-conceived metaphysical notions, he constructs a philosophical groundwork—Neutral Monism—that allows for a more direct and unburdened exploration of mind-body interactions and psychic experiences, grounding such studies in observable reality rather than abstract speculation.

Mind-Matter Duality Debunked

At its core, the book tackles the persistent philosophical challenge of defining mind, matter, and their perplexing relationship. Carington argues that the perceived chasm between the mental and the physical is a construct of linguistic imprecision. By re-evaluating our terms, he offers a path to transcend this duality, proposing a unified, experience-based understanding.

📜 Historical context

Published in 1949, this work emerges from a mid-20th-century resurgence of empiricist thought. It significantly contributes to the philosophical underpinnings of psychical research, a field often marginalized by mainstream academia. Carington’s Neutral Monism echoes traditions seeking to unify disparate aspects of reality, providing a bridge between scientific inquiry and the subtle realms of consciousness.

📚 Glossary

Neutral Monism
Empiricism
Psychical Research

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a long-held belief you have. How might your understanding of it change if you rigorously examined the words you use to define it, and their direct experiential referents?
Carington argues that some 'insoluble problems' are nonsensical. Can you identify a philosophical or personal dilemma where re-evaluating your language could reveal a similar illusion?
If mind and matter are not fundamentally distinct, but rather different aspects of a 'neutral' reality, how does this shift your perspective on consciousness or psychic phenomena?