298 NONMONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONSQuestions for reflection
1 Construct and assess an argument for the claim Numinous experience is
not self-authenticating regarding the claim that God exists analogous to
the one offered above regarding the claim that enlightenment experience
is not self-authenticating regarding religious belief.
2 Give the best argument you can for the claim Kevala experience provides
evidence for Jain belief and then subject it to the best critique that you
can offer. What is the result?
3 Give the best argument you can for the claim Moksha experience
provides evidence for Advaita belief and then subject it to the best
critique that you can offer. What is the result?
4 Give the best argument you can for the claim Nirvana experience
provides evidence for Theravada belief and then subject it to the best
critique that you can offer. What is the result?
5 Give the best argument you can for the claim Numinous experience
provides evidence for monotheistic belief and then subject it to the best
critique that you can offer. What is the result?
6 Give the best argument you can for the claim Sensory experience
provides evidence for belief in the existence of physical objects and then
subject it to the best critique that you can offer. What is the result?
Annotated reading
Braddon-Mitchell, David and Jackson, Frank (eds) (1996) Philosophy of Mind and
Cognition, Oxford: Blackwell. A good survey of contemporary philosophy of mind.
Chisholm, Roderick (1976) Person and Object, LaSalle, IL: Open Court. Defends a
substance account of persons.
Loux, Michael (1997) Metaphysics, London: Routledge. Contains a good discussion
of substance-theories and bundle-theories.
Yandell, Keith E. (1990) Hume’s “Inexplicable Mystery,” Philadelphia: Temple
University Press. Contains a detailed discussion of Hume’s views.