Prolegomenon to a philosophy of meditation

A philosophy of meditation must address distinctions between meditative practices, states, and traits; the role of religion-based traditions; contemporary practices and research; whether meditation qualifies as a philosophical practice; critiques like 'McMindfulness'; the possibility that such practices reveal metaphysical truths or lead to enlightenment; and how physics or metaphysics might explain paranormal corollaries of mystical experiences. The author argues that meditative practices are among the most powerful forms of spiritual and philosophical practice, drawing on personal experiences and speculative hypotheses.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This prolegomenon sketches issues central to a philosophy of meditation, develops only some of them here, and refers readers to other works where some not covered here are addressed. A complete philosophy of meditation would include accounts of: the differences between meditative practices, states, and traits; religion-based meditative traditions; novel contemporary meditative practices and research; meditative practices that are and aren?t philosophical practices and vice versa; ?McMindfulness?; whether any such practices reveal metaphysical truths or lead to enlightenment; what physics/metaphysics might make the paranormal corollaries of mystical experiences possible; and the pros and cons of these issues. The author shares some personal experiences, speculative hypotheses, and arguments for the central claim that meditative practices are one of the most powerful forms of spiritual and philosophical practice.