Seeing in Visionary and Mystical Experience: A Perceptual and Cognitive-Semantic Account
Cognitive Semantics September 19, 2022 K. Stocker
During ordinary visual experience (perception and imagery), seeing is organized by Talmyan concept structuring—a cognitive framework that categorizes and structures what is seen. In extrovertive visionary experience and extrovertive mystical experience, this structuring is largely or totally suspended, except for the perspective point, which remains in all human seeing. The paper draws on Aldous Huxley for visionary experience, and on Rudolph Otto and Walter Stace for mystical experience, using cognitive-semantic analysis. It also evaluates how well altered-state-of-consciousness questionnaires capture these experiences, and discusses potential mental benefits from temporarily suspending Talmyan concept structuring.