The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature is a book by the Harvard psychologist and philosopher William James that comprises his edited Gifford Lectures on "Natural Theology" delivered at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland between 1901 and 1902. For other people named William James see William James (disambiguation William James (January 11 1842 – August 26 1910 was a pioneering The Gifford Lectures were established by the will of Adam Lord Gifford (died 1887) Natural theology is a branch of Theology based on Reason and ordinary Experience, explaining the gods rationally as part of the physical world The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting
Scientific theories are organically conditioned just as much as religious emotions are; and if we only knew the facts intimately enough, we should doubtless see 'the liver' determining the dicta of the sturdy atheist as decisively as it does those of the Methodist under conviction anxious about his soul. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations When it alters in one way the blood that percolates it, we get the Methodist, when in another way, we get the atheist form of mind.
These lectures concerned the nature of religion and the neglect of science, in James' view, in the academic study of religion. Soon after its publication, the book found its way into the canon of psychology and philosophy, and has remained in print for over a century. James would go on to develop his philosophy of pragmatism, and there are already many overlapping ideas in Varieties and his 1907 book, Pragmatism. Pragmatism generally considered to have originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Peirce, who first stated the Pragmatic maxim.
Contents |
Summary of some of the lecture topics
Proposition of value versus existential judgment
James believes that the study of the origin of an object or an idea does not play a role in the study of its value. He asserts that existential judgment, or the scientific examination of an object's origin, is a separate matter from that object's value. One must not consider an object's physical derivation when making a proposition of value. As an example, he alludes to the Quaker religion and its founder, George Fox. George Fox (July 1624 – 13 January 1691 was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers Many of the scientists in James' audience, and many today, immediately reject all aspects of the Quaker religion because evidence suggests that Fox was schizophrenic. Schizophrenia ( from the Greek roots schizein (σχίζειν "to split" and phrēn Calling this rejection medical materialism he insists that the origin of Fox's notions about religion should not come into account when propositioning the value of the Quaker religion. As an aside, many believe El Greco to have suffered from astigmatism, yet no one would dismiss his art based on this medical detail. El Greco' ("The Greek " 1541 &ndash April 7 1614 was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance See also Aberration in optical systems, Astigmatism (eye An Optical system with astigmatism is one where rays that propagate James proposes, somewhat sarcastically, that his audience's atheism is perhaps a dysfunction of the liver. Atheism The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals Some believe science to be superior to religion because of religion's seemingly vain, unfounded, or perhaps insane origin. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding In his lectures, James asserted that these claims, while perhaps historically or epistemologically interesting, play no role in the separate question of religion's value. Epistemology (from Greek επιστήμη - episteme, "knowledge" + λόγος, " Logos " or theory of knowledge
Healthy-mindedness versus the sick soul
Ignoring the more scientific topic of medical health, James described two types of spiritual health:
- The healthy mind, described in Lectures IV and V under the title of "The religion of healthy-mindedness". The healthy-minded have a naturally positive outlook on life. Perhaps influenced by the popularity of the Mind-Cure Movement, a social pressure group of the day that promoted positive thinking as a cure for disease and depression, James assumed that some people simply are happy. The New Thought Movement or New Thought is a New religious movement developed in the United States during the late 19th century which emphasizes metaphysical "We find such persons in every age, passionately flinging themselves upon their sense of the goodness of life, in spite of the hardships of their own condition, and in spite of the sinister theologies in which they may be born. From the outset, their religion is one of union with the divine" says James. In the lectures, Walt Whitman is a favorite example of healthy mindedness. Walter Whitman (May 31 1819 &ndash March 26 1892 was an American poet, Essayist journalist, and humanist. James quotes Francis W Newman, describing such individuals as seeing God, "not as a strict Judge, not as a Glorious Potentate, but as the animating Spirit of a beautiful harmonious world. Beneficent and Kind, Merciful as well as Pure".
- The sick soul, described in Lectures VI and VII. Those people having a sick soul are those who are depressed and see the evil in all things. James focused on this "divided soul" personality as the candidate for the benefits of conversion. He believed that the only way for a sick soul to cure itself is to undergo a powerful mystical experience, or religious conversion. He argues these so-called "twice born" souls turn out to be the most healthy in the end, since they have seen life from both perspectives.
Reality versus symbols of reality
The lectures discussed the distinction between symbolism and reality. "Symbolic" redirects here For other uses see Symbolism (disambiguation and Symbolic (disambiguation. Reality, in everyday usage means "the state of things as they actually exist" Symbols, such as the word "steak" on a menu, do not embody the actuality of the objects they represent. The musical instrument is spelled Cymbal. A symbol is something --- such as an object, Picture, written word a sound a piece The word "steak" on a menu merely points to some slab of meat in the back of the restaurant. In a similar way, James posits that all of science is fundamentally detached from reality since the tools of science are merely pointers to some actual objective realm. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding He criticized his audience for the scientific tendency to ignore the unseen aspects of life and the universe. As an example, he discussed the way the notion of a lemon causes salivation in the mouth of an individual; while there is no lemon, there is clearly a process occurring worthy of academic inquiry.
Publication data
- The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature (1902)
- 2005, Elibron Classics (Adamant Media) paperback: ISBN 1-4021-9903-1
- 2002, Centenary Edition, Routledge hardcover: ISBN 0-415-27809-0
- 2002, Dover Publications, ISBN 0-486-42164-3
- 1999, Modern Library paperback: ISBN 0-679-64011-8
- 1997, Touchstone mass market paperback: ISBN 0-684-84297-1
- 1994, Modern Library hardcover: ISBN 0-679-60075-2
- 1994, Audio Scholar audio cassette: ISBN 1-879557-02-9
- 1982, Penguin Classics paperback: ISBN 0-14-039034-0
also contained in:
- William James: Writings 1902-1910, Library of America, 1379 p. The Library of America (LoA is a Nonprofit Publisher of classic American literature. , (1987) ISBN 0-940450-38-0
External links
- The Varieties of Religious Experience, available at Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works
- On The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study of Human Nature Emory University links to four online editions and commentaries
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