Pythia and Altered States of Consciousness: A Cognitive Perspective

CHALUPA, Aleš. Pythia and Altered States of Consciousness: A Cognitive Perspective. In MUR: Brain, Mind, Religion Conference, Krakow, Poland, 28.2-1.3.2015. 2015.

Základní údaje

• Originální název: Pythia and Altered States of Consciousness: A Cognitive Perspective
• Autoři: CHALUPA, Aleš (203 Česká republika, garant, domácí).
• Vydání: MUR: Brain, Mind, Religion Conference, Krakow, Poland, 28.2-1.3.2015, 2015.

Další údaje

• Originální jazyk: angličtina
• Typ výsledku: Prezentace na konferencích
• Obor: 60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
• Stát vydavatele: Polsko
• Utajení: není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství
• Kód RIV: RIV/00216224:14210/15:00084452
• Organizační jednotka: Filozofická fakulta
• Klíčová slova anglicky: Delphic Oracle; Altered States of Consciousness; Cognitive Psychology; Patterned Dissociative Identity
• Štítky: rivok
• Příznaky: Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Anotace

This paper attempts to evaluate possible contribution of cognitive psychology to our understanding of Pythia's role in divinatory procedures taking place in the Delphic Oracle. In previous scholarship there was a deep-rooted tendency to search for a natural substance whose digestion/inhalation should cause changes in Pythia's mental state. These efforts have recently been revived in the form of much advertised "Ethylene hypothesis", purportedly harmonizing information of ancient sources with scientific knowledge of modern geology and chemistry. It will be argued, however, that the actual merit of these "retrospective diagnoses" remains problematic, because it is often founded on a simplistic or one-sided interpretation of complex historical sources which reduces their scientific value. On the other hand, based on the a research done in the field of cognitive psychology, it will be proposed that Pythia's mental state can be classified as an instance of Patterned Dissociative Identity, which is very often emicly understood as a possession of human mind by spiritual beings. This new approach can, if carefully undertaken, produce some valuable insights about the working of the Delphic Oracle and possibly supplement missing pieces in our historiographical sources.

Návaznosti

• MUNI/A/1148/2014, interní kód MU: Název: Inovativní teoretické a metodologické perspektivy v religionistice (Akronym: ITMEPRE)

Investor: Masarykova univerzita, Inovativní teoretické a metodologické perspektivy v religionistice, DO R. 2020_Kategorie A - Specifický výzkum - Studentské výzkumné projekty