The Demons of William James: Religious Pragmatism Explores Unusual Mental States

This book is a psychological exploration of unusual minds, a religious exploration of demonological myth, and a philosophical exploration of the reaches of pragmatism. It uses topics such as hypnotism, mediumship, and mass possession to argue for a comprehensive understanding of the demonic that ack...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ruetenik, Tadd (Author)
Format: Electronic Book
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 2018
In:Year: 2018
Series/Journal:SpringerLink Bücher
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B James, William 1842-1910 / Demonology / Religious experience / Experience of religion / Pragmatic thinking
RelBib Classification:AE Psychology of religion
Further subjects:B Religion and sociology
B Pragmatism
B Psychology and religion
B Philosophy
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
Volltext (Verlag)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Printed edition: 9783319916224
Description
Summary:This book is a psychological exploration of unusual minds, a religious exploration of demonological myth, and a philosophical exploration of the reaches of pragmatism. It uses topics such as hypnotism, mediumship, and mass possession to argue for a comprehensive understanding of the demonic that acknowledges not only the creativity which it encourages, but also the danger it can bring. Professor Ruetenik uses James’ religious pragmatism to evaluate the relevance of psychical research, and to explain common beliefs regarding demons, spirits, and other controlling personalities. The conclusion of this interdisciplinary research is as alarming as it is fascinating: When exploring the demons of William James, we discover that ordinary personality cannot be clearly separated from what we consider the demonic
Chapter 1: James Family Vastation -- Chapter 2: Pragmatism and Demonology: Circumscription of the Topic -- Chapter 3: Piper, Salem, and the Communal Demonic -- Chapter 4: Contemporary Mediums and the Return of William James -- Chapter 5: The Varieties of Demonic Experience: A Study in Quasi-Human Nature -- Chapter 6: Embraced by the Demon: The Perils of Immediate Experience -- Chapter 7: The “Cruel” Death of William James
ISBN:3319916238
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91623-1