Process Philosophy and Exceptional Experience: Whitehead and the Wild(er)ness of Non-Sensory Perception.
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| Title: | Process Philosophy and Exceptional Experience: Whitehead and the Wild(er)ness of Non-Sensory Perception. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Davis, Andrew M. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science. Jun2026, Vol. 61 Issue 2, p620-650. 31p. |
| Subjects: | Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861-1947, Extrasensory perception, Christian philosophy, Parapsychology, Neurosciences, Philosophers, Religious experience |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this article is to demonstrate and elucidate the fruitfulness of Alfred North Whitehead's doctrine of non-sensory perception for exceptional forms of experience. I begin by introducing Whitehead's work, influence, and some of the characteristic ideological transitions associated with his thought. I then draw attention to his methodology as a form of radical empiricism beyond that of William James and review some of his central critiques of philosophy and science in light of them. Against the problematic modern assumption that all experience is mediated through the clarity of conscious sense perception, I then move to articulate his wilder doctrine of the primacy of non-sensory perception, of which conscious sense perception is a heightened, albeit narrower, delimitation, showing that this dual theory of perception provides a viable conceptual means of approaching exceptional forms of experience. Turning to recent examples of process philosophers extending and applying Whitehead's doctrine of perception, I focus on religious or mystical experiences of God, paranormal or parapsychological phenomena, and psychedelic experiences. Finally, I connect the discussion to recent neuroscience, suggesting that the hemisphere hypothesis of Iain McGilchrist may provide neuroscientific support for Whitehead's dual theory of perception, including the conviction that the function of the brain with respect to the mind is not to produce the mind as such but to limit its inclusion so that waking consciousness is actually possible. I conclude by briefly commenting on the nature and importance of spiritual practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science is the property of Open Library of Humanities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 195317185 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Process Philosophy and Exceptional Experience: Whitehead and the Wild(er)ness of Non-Sensory Perception. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Davis%2C+Andrew+M%2E%22">Davis, Andrew M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Zygon%3A+Journal+of+Religion+%26+Science%22">Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 61 Issue 2, p620-650. 31p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Whitehead%2C+Alfred+North%2C+1861-1947%22">Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861-1947</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Extrasensory+perception%22">Extrasensory perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Christian+philosophy%22">Christian philosophy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parapsychology%22">Parapsychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neurosciences%22">Neurosciences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Philosophers%22">Philosophers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+experience%22">Religious experience</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The purpose of this article is to demonstrate and elucidate the fruitfulness of Alfred North Whitehead's doctrine of non-sensory perception for exceptional forms of experience. I begin by introducing Whitehead's work, influence, and some of the characteristic ideological transitions associated with his thought. I then draw attention to his methodology as a form of radical empiricism beyond that of William James and review some of his central critiques of philosophy and science in light of them. Against the problematic modern assumption that all experience is mediated through the clarity of conscious sense perception, I then move to articulate his wilder doctrine of the primacy of non-sensory perception, of which conscious sense perception is a heightened, albeit narrower, delimitation, showing that this dual theory of perception provides a viable conceptual means of approaching exceptional forms of experience. Turning to recent examples of process philosophers extending and applying Whitehead's doctrine of perception, I focus on religious or mystical experiences of God, paranormal or parapsychological phenomena, and psychedelic experiences. Finally, I connect the discussion to recent neuroscience, suggesting that the hemisphere hypothesis of Iain McGilchrist may provide neuroscientific support for Whitehead's dual theory of perception, including the conviction that the function of the brain with respect to the mind is not to produce the mind as such but to limit its inclusion so that waking consciousness is actually possible. I conclude by briefly commenting on the nature and importance of spiritual practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science is the property of Open Library of Humanities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=195317185 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.16995/zygon.27985 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 31 StartPage: 620 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861-1947 Type: general – SubjectFull: Extrasensory perception Type: general – SubjectFull: Christian philosophy Type: general – SubjectFull: Parapsychology Type: general – SubjectFull: Neurosciences Type: general – SubjectFull: Philosophers Type: general – SubjectFull: Religious experience Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Process Philosophy and Exceptional Experience: Whitehead and the Wild(er)ness of Non-Sensory Perception. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Davis, Andrew M. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 05912385 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 61 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science Type: main |
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