The Miracle of an Open Mind: Reflections on the Philosophy of William James (Reflections by Jeff Carreira)

The Miracle of an Open Mind presents the ideas and passions of the pioneering American philosopher and psychologist William James. The book starts by exploring James' lifelong interest in altered states of consciousness and paranormal experiences. From this unusual starting point the book continues outlining some of James' most extraordinary and original conceptions. In these pages you will discover a vision of a world of pure experience in which consciousness is infinite and eternal and our own sense of self is seen to be merely an illusion. William James is famous for being the American pioneer of positive psychology and the human potential movement. What is not as well known is that he was a lifelong advocate of the experimental use of mind-altering drugs and believed that the first priority of psychology should be to study paranormal phenomenon, extrasensory perception and the development of superhuman abilities. The Miracle of an Open Mind presents the ideas and passions of a truly pioneering American philosopher and psychologist. You will start with an exploration of James lifelong interest in altered states of consciousness and paranormal experiences. From this unusual beginning we will outline some of James most extraordinary and original conceptions about reality, the human mind and our vast potential as a species. In these pages you will discover a vision of a world of pure experience in which consciousness is infinite and eternal and our own sense of self is only one possibility in an infinite sea of alternatives.