Some Christians claim to sense Jesus’ presence; some Hindus feel “one” with what they view as the permanent core of reality (i.e., Brahman); some “spiritual but not religious” people experience ecstatically losing themselves in the vast expanse of the universe. These are all examples of mystical experiences. But what defines a mystical experience? In his landmark study The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902) William James (1842-1910) attempts to define the common features shared by all mystical experiences, and address whether such (...) experiences justify beliefs based on them. James is considered the first philosopher of mysticism. This essay introduces James’ views on mystical experience. (shrink)

While witnessing the birth of a child, or a flower newly in bloom in early spring, you might begin to reflect on existence in general and feel amazed by the simple mind-blowing fact that anything exists—that there is something (not anything in particular, but anything at all) rather than nothing. In doing so, you are experiencing wonder at what Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) calls Being. This essay summarizes Heidegger’s notion of Being.

While experiences of the sublime are often overwhelming and overpowering, overall they are deeply empowering. According to Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the sublime empowers us by revealing the greatness (i.e., the sublimity) of our rational minds. This essay summarizes Kant’s theory of the sublime.

Mysticism refers to religious traditions devoted to cultivating altered states of consciousness called “mystical experiences.” During these experiences, mystics feel “one” with a supernatural being, or they have other types of experiences in which they allegedly perceive unity through direct contact with some fundamental aspect of reality. Mystics tend to believe that their mystical experiences justify their religious beliefs. This essay reviews philosophical attempts to define mystical experience as well as arguments about whether mystical experiences justify religious beliefs.