WALTER STACE ON MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE (Philosophy - Religious Experience)

Stace distinguishes between...

...extrovertive and introvertive experience

Extrovertive experiences are...

- Have sensory and/or intellectual content

- Could be an awareness of the universe

- Are kataphatic - can be described

- Only partly mystical

Introvertive experiences are...

- Gen. mystical experiences

- Non sensory and non intellectual

- Not awareness of but actually achieving union with the divine

- Are apophatic - we can only say what it is not

What does Stace mean by 'non-sensuous and non-intellectual union with the divine'?

It is the highest form, where the senses cease to work and are replaced by pure consciousness. Non sensuous means not involving the physical senses. Non intellectual means the I of rational intellect is replaced by pure consciousness.

Why aren't visions and voices mystical experiences according to Stace?

- Visions and voices are not mystical experiences.

- Mystics are the sort of people who might see visions and hear voices but a genuine mystical experience is non-sensuous - without shape, clour, smell or sound

- A vision, by definition, include experiences including colour and shape, and a voice includes auditory experience (sensory experiences).

What is meant by 'ineffable', and why would Stace describe genuine mystical experiences as ineffable?

Ineffable means that it cannot be described. Stace describes genuine mystical experiences as ineffable because it is 'one without the self' - as you are not present, you cannot describe it. You can only describe it in apophatic language.

kataphatic language

The use of positive terms about God

apophatic language

We can only say what something is not; it cannot be explained in positive terms

Why can only apophatic language be used to describe mystical experiences according to Stace?

Only apophatic language can be used as you are replaced by pure consciousness, so you cannot describe what the mystical experience is, but only what it is not.

Type of Revelation that Mystical Experience is According to Stace

Non propositional