Problemos
April 25, 2023
Márk Losoncz
6 citations
People undergoing near-death, psychedelic, or mystical experiences often report encountering a reality that feels more real than ordinary reality—a hyperreality. This article uses philosophical phenomenology and theories of sense of reality to analyze such accounts. It critiques and extends Martin Fortier's plural taxonomy of sense of reality, proposing a triadic model of reality experience. According to this model, one dimension is merely heightened reality, while the other two are either self-evident immersion in reality or the irruptive suspension of ordinary experience.
Religions
August 20, 2025
Márk Losoncz
1 citation
Pure consciousness—characterized by unstructuredness, maximal simplicity, selflessness, awareness as such, zero-perspective, and absence of specific phenomenal qualities—can be fully experienced in the psychedelic state, and this experience is phenomenologically indistinguishable from pure consciousness achieved through meditation. This directly refutes Metzinger's claim that meditation is the sole best candidate for attaining pure consciousness. The article advocates soft phenomenological perennialism, which holds that all pure consciousness experiences share an identical core, whether induced by psychedelics or meditation. Such experiences can yield epistemic insights into consciousness, self, and reality, and can inform understanding of religious-spiritual concepts like God, though naturalistic critiques caution against religious-spiritual interpretations. A spiritual naturalistic interpretation of pure consciousness is increasingly important.
Philosophies
July 21, 2023
Márk Losoncz
1 citation
This article defines spiritual anarchism as openness to what transcends the ego and our limited perspective, arguing that the self can become an unjustifiable source of authority and a constraint on freedom. It critically reviews prior overviews of spiritual anarchism and proposes including neglected traditions. The article then reverses the typical approach by examining how spiritual practices—such as meditation, psychedelic experiences, and mystical experiences—can be made more anarchistic.
Filozofija i drustvo
January 1, 2025
Márk Losoncz
Pure consciousness, known for millennia in contemplative traditions as experience free of content and ego, is now studied scientifically. This article examines Thomas Metzinger's claim that meditation is the best path to study it—the Royal Road Thesis (RRT). It critically analyzes the concept of meditation, uses non-meditative descriptions to further deconstruct it, and argues that Metzinger's minimal phenomenal experience is not inherently mystical. Interpreting these ideas within consciousness culture and spirituality, the article concludes the RRT is very problematic and should be replaced by a more nuanced approach.
Magyar Filozófiai Szemle
January 1, 2024
Márk Losoncz
This article critically examines the concepts of 'meaning formation', 'spontaneity', and 'altered states of consciousness', questioning whether altered states should be described as processes of spontaneous meaning formation. It argues that this conceptual framework is not the most appropriate for grasping such states, and that a critical analysis of these terms can help radically rethink the concepts of experience and consciousness.