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Near-Death Experiences: A Critique of the Fischer and Mitchell-Yellin Physicalist Interpretation

Abstract: In "Near Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife," authors John Martin Fischer and Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin (2016) argued for purely physicalist explanations of near-death experiences (NDEs) and against "supernatural" explanations involving objects and events--out-of-body experiences, heavenly realms, meeting deceased relatives--that have no physical reality. In our critique, we identify two major weaknesses to their argument: heavy reliance on ad hoc hypotheses and frequent appeal to "promissory materialism." Fischer and Mitchell-Yellin applied the term "hallucination" to NDEs because, by definition, they "do not correspond to reality." We found use of this term problematic for several reasons: that NDE perceptions are phenomenologically different from hallucinations, that NDE perceptions of the physical realm are nearly always veridical, and that labelling NDEs "hallucinations" pathologizes a normal, subjective experience, with potentially harmful psychological outcomes. Although Fischer and Mitchell-Yellin argued a theory of NDEs that invokes only one explanatory factor, we argue for a likely common proximate cause for all NDEs and that the nonphysical "mind-entity theory" in which the nonmaterial mind separates from the physical body in an NDE, is a likely candidate theory with good explanatory power. We believe that ultimately the theory explaining NDEs will be corrected through the normal process of …
Date: Winter 2017
Creator: Mays, Robert G. & Mays, Suzanne B.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library

Understanding Near-Death Experiences: A Rejoinder to Mitchell-Yellin's Response

Article discussing Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin's response to Robert J. and Suzanne B. Mays critique of "Near Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife" by John Martin Fischer and Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin.
Date: Winter 2017
Creator: Mays, Robert G. & Mays, Suzanne B.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library

Editor's Foreword [Winter 2017]

Editorial statement introducing the contents of the journal issue and providing other relevant notes. This issue contains a review of "Near-Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife" by John Martin Fischer and Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin, Fischer's and Mitchell-Yellin's response to the critique, and a review of Francoise Tibika's book, "Molecular Consciousness: Why the Universe Is Aware of Our Presence."
Date: Winter 2017
Creator: Holden, Janice Miner
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library

Understanding Near-Death Experiences: A Response to Mays and Mays's Review

Article discussing Robert and Suzanne Mays' critique of "Near Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife" by Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin and John Martin Fischer. The article addresses each of Mays' points and states that they misattributed claims to Mitchell-Yellin and Fischer.
Date: Winter 2017
Creator: Mitchell-Yellin, Benjamin
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library

Book Review: Molecular Consciousness: Why the Universe is Aware of Our Presence

Review of a book titled "Molecular Consciousness: Why the Universe is Aware of Our Presence" written by Françioise Tibikia, a professional chemist. The review discusses the book's three large sections; an overview of atomic chemistry and physics, the idea of matter having a consciousness, and material and non-material realities.
Date: Winter 2017
Creator: Coffey, William D.
Object Type: Review
System: The UNT Digital Library