🕯️ Occult Philosophy

Parapsychology, Philosophy, and Spirituality: A Postmodern Exploration

✍️ Griffin, David Ray
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$38.95
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

David Ray Griffin, known for grappling with weighty philosophical questions, now confronts the controversial domain of parapsychology. He meticulously dissects why mainstream science, philosophy, and theology often reject psychic phenomena, arguing that such dismissals are frequently unfounded. Griffin then proposes a 'constructive postmodern' philosophical lens, enabling a serious appraisal of parapsychological evidence. He presents compelling cases for ESP, psychokinesis, and life after death, ultimately suggesting these findings offer a foundation for a profound and meaningful postmodern spirituality, challenging conventional reductionist views.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“This is a very thorough integration of the data from parapsychology, both experimental and anecdotal, into the philosophical discussions concerning the nature and role of consciousness. The scholarship is sound, and the issues raised in this book are very hot topics in the academic community, especially among philosophers and cognitive scientists.”
— Richard S. Broughton, Director, Institute for Parapsychology
“An informative book about parapsychology that I can recommend highly to all philosophers and theologians.”
— Ian Stevenson, M.D., Carlson Professor of Psychiatry, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center
🏛 State University of New York Press 📅 1997 📖 362 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780791433164
Fun Fact
Griffin's intellectual rigor shines, offering a robust philosophical defense of parapsychology against its detractors. This work excels in establishing a framework for serious consideration of psychic phenomena, making it essential for academic and spiritual seekers. It will disappoint those expecting simple proofs or a light read. This book uniquely elevates a often-maligned subject into scholarly discourse at the intersection of philosophy, science, and spirituality.

📝 Description: Parapsychology, Philosophy, and Spirituality: A Postmodern Exploration

Examines why parapsychology has been held in disdain by scientists, philosophers, and theologians, explores the evidence for ESP, psychokinesis, and life after death, and suggests that these phenomena provide support for a meaningful postmodern spirituality. In this book, David Ray Griffin, best known for his work on the problem of evil, turns his attention to the even more controversial topic of parapsychology. Griffin examines why scientists, philosophers, and theologians have held parapsychology in disdain and argues that neither a priori philosophical attacks nor wholesale rejection of the evidence can withstand scrutiny. After articulating a constructive postmodern philosophy that allows the parapsychological evidence to be taken seriously, Griffin examines this evidence extensively. He identifies four types of repeatable phenomena that suggest the reality of extrasensory perception and psychokinesis. Then, on the basis of a nondualistic distinction between mind and brain, which makes the idea of life after death conceivable, he examines five types of evidence for the reality of life after death: messages from mediums; apparitions; cases of the possession type; cases of the reincarnation type; and out-of-body experiences. His philosophical and empirical examinations of these phenomena suggest that they provide support for a postmodern spirituality that overcomes the thinness of modern religion without returning to supernaturalism.

📑 What's inside

  1. Acknowledgments
  2. Introduction to SUNY Series in Constructive Postmodern Thought
  3. Introduction: Parapsychology, Philosophy, and Spirituality
  4. 1. Parapsychology and Postmodern Philosophy
  5. 2. White Crows Abounding: Evidence for the Paranormal
  6. 3. The Mind-Body Relation and the Possibility of Life after Death
  7. 4. Evidence for Life after Death: Mediumistic Messages
  8. 5. Evidence from Cases of the Possession Type
  9. 6. Evidence from Cases of the Reincarnation Type
  10. 7. Evidence from Apparitions
  11. 8. Evidence from Out-of-Body Experiences
  12. 9. Parapsychology and Postmodern Spirituality
  13. Notes
  14. Note on Supporting Center
  15. Index

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Griffin delivers a formidable argument that demands attention from serious scholars of consciousness, yet it may frustrate readers seeking quick fixes or purely devotional content. The text is dense with philosophical nuance, requiring patience from those unaccustomed to academic rigor in occult studies. It does not suit skeptics entrenched in strict materialist paradigms, as the author explicitly aims to dismantle their dogma. Furthermore, casual readers looking for light paranormal anecdotes will likely find the systematic deconstruction of theological and scientific rejections tedious. It is a heavy, thoughtful contribution best appreciated by those willing to engage with complex arguments about the nature of existence.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a rigorous intellectual foundation for spiritual beliefs will find profound value in Griffin’s courageous challenge to reductionist materialism. This book is essential for those weary of dismissing psychic phenomena as mere coincidence, offering instead a structured postmodern lens to evaluate evidence for ESP and life after death. It appeals to philosophers and theologians open to expanding their definitions of reality, providing a coherent bridge between empirical parapsychological data and meaningful spirituality. If you desire a work that does not shy away from controversial topics but treats them with academic seriousness, this text offers the necessary tools to rethink your worldview and embrace hidden truths beyond conventional understanding.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you’re a seeker disillusioned by reductionist science, or if you possess an open mind towards psychic phenomena and the potential for consciousness beyond the physical, this book offers a profound intellectual journey. It's ideal for anyone ready to reconsider the boundaries of reality and…

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

Griffin delivers a formidable argument that demands attention from serious scholars of consciousness, yet it may frustrate readers seeking quick fixes or purely devotional content. The text is dense with philosophical nuance, requiring patience from those unaccustomed to academic rigor in occult studies. It does not suit skeptics entrenched in strict materialist paradigms, as the author explicitly aims to dismantle their dogma. Furthermore, casual readers looking for light paranormal anecdotes will likely find the systematic deconstruction of theological and scientific rejections tedious. It is a heavy, thoughtful contribution best appreciated by those willing to engage with complex arguments about the nature of existence.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. Griffin rigorously examines the evidence and the arguments against parapsychology. He doesn't ask you to believe blindly but to consider a robust philosophical framework that allows for these phenomena to be taken seriously, based on compelling data.
Griffin employs a "constructive postmodern" philosophy. This approach moves beyond the deconstruction often associated with postmodernism to build a new framework that can integrate parapsychological evidence without resorting to reductionist or overly simplistic explanations.

📖 Who should read this

If you’re a seeker disillusioned by reductionist science, or if you possess an open mind towards psychic phenomena and the potential for consciousness beyond the physical, this book offers a profound intellectual journey. It's ideal for anyone ready to reconsider the boundaries of reality and spirituality.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Challenging Scientific Dogma

Griffin meticulously explores the historical and philosophical reasons behind the widespread skepticism toward parapsychology. He argues that prevailing scientific and philosophical paradigms often prematurely dismiss evidence that doesn't fit their established frameworks, hindering genuine inquiry into anomalous experiences and phenomena often deemed impossible by reductionist thought.

Validating Psychic Phenomena

The author presents a rigorous examination of various types of repeatable parapsychological phenomena. He delves into documented instances of extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis, offering a compelling argument that these events are not merely anecdotal but warrant serious consideration, challenging materialist explanations of reality and consciousness.

Consciousness Beyond Mortality

Griffin explores evidence suggesting consciousness persists beyond physical death. By proposing a non-reductive mind-brain distinction, he creates a framework for understanding phenomena like mediumship and apparitions. These insights contribute to building a more expansive and meaningful postmodern spiritual worldview, moving beyond purely materialist interpretations of existence.

📜 Historical context

Griffin's work continues a long philosophical tradition challenging scientific materialism, particularly regarding consciousness. It aligns with efforts to legitimize parapsychological research, echoing earlier psychical investigators. By framing these inquiries within a contemporary postmodern philosophy, he offers a fresh lens, reinvigorating ancient questions about the mind's reach and ultimate nature of reality.

📚 Glossary

Parapsychology
Psychokinesis
Constructive Postmodernism

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How might acknowledging the reality of ESP or psychokinesis alter your understanding of human potential and the nature of consciousness?
  2. What preconceived notions do you hold about parapsychology, and how might a rigorous philosophical inquiry challenge or affirm them?
  3. If evidence for life after death were widely accepted, what implications would this have for your personal spiritual beliefs or lack thereof?

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