Some philosophical refections on the "essentialist" v/s "constructivist" debate as it stands to the philosophical analysis of mystical experience
âEssentialismâ and âconstructivismâ are two epistemological perspectives that have been used in the philosophical analysis of mystical experience. âEssentialismâ attempts to establish mystical experience as a distinct category of experience, cutting across cultural boundaries. âConstructivismâ attempts to establish mystical experience as unique to its various cultural contexts. The two viewpoints are variously held in opposition. âConstructivismâ often appears as something of an assumed perspective and is rarely, if ever, defended (in any depth) by the individuals whose views it apparently represents. Recent âessentialistâ thinkers (ânon-constructivistsâ) have taken issue with this tendency to assume âwhat is to be provedâ, and have reasoned in attempts to establish âconstructivisimâ as inappropriate to certain experiences that appear to be found recurring in reports of mystical experiences across cultures. However, those analyses have been concerned to recommend their own (âessentialistâ / ânon-constructivistâ) position and have, therefore, operated with a certain amount of bias, despite elements of commendable intent. Indeed it is in virtue of these commendable
Cameron, Jonathan
Mysticism ; Philosophy ; Constructivism (Philosophy) ; Essentialism (Philosophy)
Some philosophical refections on the "essentialist" v/s "constructivist" debate as it stands to the philosophical analysis of mystical experience. âEssentialismâ and âconstructivismâ are two epistemological perspectives that have been used in the philosophical analysis of mystical experience. âEssentialismâ attempts to establish mystical experience as a distinct category of experience, cutting across cultural boundaries. âConstructivismâ attempts to establish mystical experience as unique to its various cultural contexts. The two viewpoints are variously held in opposition. âConstructivismâ often appears as something of an assumed perspective and is rarely, if ever, defended (in any depth) by the individuals whose views it apparently represents. Recent âessentialistâ thinkers (ânon-constructivistsâ) have taken issue with this tendency to assume âwhat is to be provedâ, and have reasoned in attempts to establish âconstructivisimâ as inappropriate to certain experiences that appear to be found recurring in reports of mystical experiences across cultures. However, those analyses have been concerned to recommend their own (âessentialistâ / ânon-constructivistâ) position and have, therefore, operated with a certain amount of bias, despite elements of commendable intent. Indeed it is in virtue of these commendable
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