Mysticism and the Explanatory Mode of Inference
John of the Cross and the Cognitive Value of Mysticism January 1, 1990 Steven Payne
Philosophers skeptical of mysticism's cognitive value may object to assuming contemplative awareness is valid by default, especially when the object of experience is strange or unusual. They argue that mystical experiences should be compared to Linus's reported encounters with the Great Pumpkin, where external observation and testing become crucial, rather than to expert perceptions like those of a wine connoisseur. The chapter anticipates and responds to this charge by considering objections raised in the fifth chapter.