Seeing in Visionary and Mystical Experience: A Perceptual and Cognitive-Semantic Account

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.

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Abstract

According to Stocker (in press), seeing in visual experience (visual perception and visual imagery) is organized by Talmyan concept structuring. Here, it is proposed that during seeing in extrovertive visionary experience and extrovertive mystical experience, this visual concept structuring is largely or totally suspended—except for the perspective point (pp), which seems to remain in place in all human seeing. Complemented with cognitive-semantic analysis, characterizations of extrovertive visionary experience draw from the writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley, and characterizations of extrovertive mystical experience additionally from the theologian Rudolph Otto and the philosopher Walter Stace. It is also examined how well extrovertive visionary experience and extrovertive mystical experience are captured with altered-state-of-consciousness questionnaires. Potential benefits for the mind from temporary suspension of Talmyan concept structuring are discussed.