William James

• William James


  1842-1910

  • American Philosopher and Psychologist
  • first psychology course in america
  • one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century
  • "Father of american philosophy"
  • Gifford Lectures in 1902: 'The Verities of Religious Experiences
• What are James' four criteria for religious experiences?

  • passivity
  • ineffability
  • noetic
  • transient
• Passivity


  feeling of being grasped by a superior power not in your control
• Ineffability


  No way to describe the experience using human language
• Noetic


  universal truths revealed that are unable to be acquired anywhere else
• Transient


  Temporary experience
• The issue with neoticism


  people may use it for their own gain or form cults
• James' response to abused noeticism

  The knowledge has to relate to religion