Religion, Philosophy and Psychical Research: Selected Essays Broad, C D
Broad, C DStock reported in the catalog; fulfillment is confirmed with your request.
Unravel the mind's mysteries where philosophy meets the paranormal.
Step into the rigorous intellect of C.D. Broad with this seminal collection, originally published in 1953. As the inaugural volume in a seven-part series on the Philosophy of Religion and General Philosophy, Broad meticulously explores the philosophical underpinnings of psychical research. He delves into profound arguments concerning the existence and nature of a personal God, while also offering reflective 'afterthoughts' shaped by the nascent anxieties of the Cold War era. This work represents a crucial nexus where scientific inquiry, spiritual contemplation, and philosophical reasoning converge, offering a deep dive into the questions that define human experience.
This volume serves as a seminal bridge between mid-twentieth-century academic philosophy and the emerging field of psychical research, reflecting a period where rigorous intellectual inquiry sought to validate spiritual phenomena. It stands as a crucial nexus of scientific, spiritual, and philosophical discourse during the Cold War era.
📝 Description: Religion, Philosophy and Psychical Research: Selected Essays Broad, C D
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers fascinated by the intersection of rigorous intellect and spiritual contemplation will find profound value in this collection. It appeals specifically to those who seek a philosophical underpinning for psychical research rather than mere anecdote. By exploring arguments regarding the nature of a personal God, it offers a deep dive into questions defining human experience. The inclusion of reflections shaped by Cold War anxieties adds unique historical depth. For scholars and enthusiasts alike, this work provides an essential framework for understanding how scientific inquiry can coexist with spiritual questioning. It is ideal for those who appreciate meticulous reasoning and wish to explore the mind's mysteries through a lens that respects both empirical scrutiny and metaphysical wonder.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Broad’s collection is a dense, intellectual exploration of psychical research’s philosophical roots, demanding patience from its audience. While it offers a unique convergence of scientific inquiry and spiritual contemplation, it will not suit readers seeking accessible pop-spirituality or quick paranormal thrills. The text’s academic rigor and focus on the existence of a personal God may alienate those preferring narrative-driven occultism. Furthermore, the Cold War-era context provides specific historical flavor that might feel dated to modern seekers of purely mystical experiences. However, for those committed to understanding the serious philosophical arguments behind the paranormal, this volume remains an indispensable, if demanding, resource in the esoteric canon.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you are drawn to the intersections of rigorous philosophy, spiritual inquiry, and the unexplained, this collection is for you. Seekers of intellectual challenge who appreciate a deep, analytical approach to consciousness, divinity, and the paranormal will find C. D. Broad an essential guide.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Psychical Research & Philosophy
Broad scrutinizes the often-overlooked field of psychical research not as mere superstition, but as a legitimate area of philosophical inquiry. He examines its implications for our understanding of consciousness, reality, and the limits of scientific materialism, urging a rigorous, open-minded approach to phenomena that challenge conventional thought.
The Nature of God
This volume deeply engages with theological philosophy, presenting nuanced arguments around the concept of a personal God. Broad navigates complex questions of divine existence, attributes, and their consistency with human experience and logical reasoning, inviting readers to consider profound spiritual and metaphysical dilemmas.
Post-War Existential Reflection
Written in the shadow of atomic anxiety, the book includes Broad's 'afterthoughts' that reflect the philosophical and moral implications of the Cold War. These essays offer a unique lens through which to view humanity's intellectual and spiritual resilience amidst geopolitical tension, connecting abstract philosophy to lived global concerns.
💬 Quotes from the book
“The persistent phenomena of psychical research demand more than mere dismissal; they challenge the very foundations of our materialist metaphysics.”
“In an age shadowed by global conflict, the reasoned inquiry into a personal God becomes not an escape, but a crucial exploration of humanity's enduring spiritual quest.”
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Psychical Research
- Metaphysics
- Epistemology
📔 Questions to reflect on
- How might findings from psychical research, if scientifically validated, alter our current understanding of consciousness and reality?
- In what ways do contemporary global anxieties mirror or diverge from the 'Cold War' afterthoughts C.D. Broad explored, and how might philosophy address them today?
- Reflect on your own assumptions about the existence of a personal God. How would Broad's analytical approach challenge or affirm your current perspectives?
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