[Revised entry by Richard Jones and Jerome Gellman on September 4, 2026.
Changes to: Main text, Bibliography]
Under the influence of William James’ Varieties of Religious Experience, philosophical interest in mysticism has primarily focused on distinctive, allegedly knowledge-giving “mystical experiences.” Philosophers have dealt with such topics as the classification of mystical experiences, their nature, to what extent mystical experiences are conditioned by a mystic’s language and culture, and whether mystical experiences furnish evidence for the truth of mystical claims. Some scholars have questioned the emphasis…

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