ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I demonstrate, first, that on the basis of the evidence the claims of “constructivist” philosophers and commentators that the nature of the mystical experiences is culturally-conditioned rendering their validity indeterminate, is untenable. Second, all known types of claims to the effect that the genuine features of the mystical state are products of some neurochemical, neurophysiological or psychopathological factor or factors are sequentially examined and examined and rejected because they are not supported by the empirical evidence. On the contrary, the fact that mystical experiences, like any other psychological states, correspond to particular patterns of brain activity specific to each, is asserted but it is also shown to be completely irrelevant to the truth value of the genuine features of the experiences.
