Near-Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife
The Philosophical Quarterly January 30, 2017 Travis Timmerman 29 citations
A book by John Martin Fischer and Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin examines arguments for dualism and the afterlife that rely on near-death experiences (NDEs). The authors review compelling cases, such as Pam Reynolds, who reported leaving her body and accurately describing details of her brain surgery while her brain showed no electrical activity. Taking these reports at face value, Fischer and Mitchell-Yellin methodically show how such experiences can be explained in purely physical terms—for example, Reynolds may have later become consciously aware of auditory impressions her brain received earlier. The book argues that NDEs do not warrant belief in dualism or an afterlife.