Seekers of Unity Is Mysticism Rational? | LOGIC and MYSTICISM with Esoterica's Justin Sledge
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Sep 11, 2020 
Justin Sledge, a scholar of religion and philosophy and host of Esoterica, dives deep into the fascinating intersection of mysticism and logic. He explores whether mystical experiences hold rational weight and examines the historical roots of logic. Sledge discusses Gödel's influence on logic and its limitations, as well as ancient philosophies that intertwined rigorous reasoning with mystical insights. The conversation also touches on metaphysical concepts across Eastern and Western traditions, urging a re-evaluation of how we define truth and identity.
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Ancients Merged Logic and Mysticism
- Early philosophers like Parmenides combined rigorous logic with mystical experience seamlessly.
- Ancient and medieval thinkers did not view logic and mysticism as incompatible, unlike modern views.
Mystics and Contradiction
- Mystics often express apparent contradictions, but may not truly contradict themselves upon deeper analysis.
- They tend to uphold the law of non-contradiction but reject strict bivalence (excluded middle).
Law of Non-Contradiction Crucial
- Violating the law of non-contradiction triggers the principle of explosion, destroying meaningful truth.
- Mystics, if committed to truth, cannot affirm real contradictions without collapsing logic itself.