Transcendental experience: the possibility of the intersection of theological, philosophical and scientific approaches

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of transcendental experience, by which the authors understand various forms of consciousness going beyond the studied forms of human experience and cognitive practices. The problem of transcendental experience is posed as a complex one. The comprehensive approach includes the history and theory of Western European thought, the Russian philosophical tradition, and modern research. An attempt is made to problematize the possibility of integrating theological, philosophical and scientific research in this area. Special attention is paid to the cognitive aspect of the problem of transcendental experience. In this paper, the authors limit the scope of the research to the methodological task of the possibility of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies of transcendental experience. The authors adhere to a post-non-classical methodology covering humanitarian campaigns and the results of natural science experimental research. The position of the embeddedness of transcendental experience in the general system of human cognitive abilities is confirmed. Transcendental experience can be considered as a qualitatively higher degree of "openness" of consciousness to the world, which implies the immediacy of perception of the object. The transcendental experience is characterized by a great depth of penetration into the object, accompanied by the experience of merging the "I" and the object, and in the limit of the "I" and the world. In the cognitive-evolutionary aspect, it is appropriate to raise the question of a new stage of transformations of consciousness. The following criteria for distinguishing genuine and false transcendental experience are proposed: reliance on a developed picture of the world; the addition of direct experience with rational reflection; spiritual/anthropological transformation as the ultimate goal of this experience; the obligation of moral self-transformation; guidance by a student from a spiritual teacher, a follower of this tradition.