The innate capacity : mysticism, psychology, and philosophy /

This wide ranging collection of ten essays by as many essayists picks up where an earlier volume--The Problem of Pure Consciousness (1990)--leaves off. Forman (Hunter College) and his fellow authors ask whether mystical experiences are the result of cultural conditioning or are, rather, products of some sort of innate human capacity. While the authors differ as to just how that innate capacity is to be conceived and understood, they are united in saying "no" to the first question and "yes" to the second, which situates them directly opposite the "Constructivist" (or Neo-Kantian) school of thought as represented by Steven Katz, Wayne Proudfoot, et al. A third possibility, synthesizing these two views, appears not to be in the running. On the whole, these are excellent pieces. Throughout, the documentation is abundant. Highly recommended for graduate students, researchers, and faculty. C. MacCormick; emeritus, Wells College