Hans Van Eyghen

Hans Van Eyghen, an assistant professor of philosophy at Tilburg University, dives into the intriguing realm of spirit beliefs and their justification. He challenges the traditional God-centric approach in philosophy by exploring how experiences like mediumship and possession can lend epistemic support to beliefs in spirits. Van Eyghen discusses how cultural definitions of spirits differ across religions and argues against dismissive scientific explanations, proposing that these beliefs may be justified and essential in communities where spirits take precedence over God.

Hans Van Eyghen, an assistant professor at Tilburg University, shares his insights on spirit beliefs from his book, The Epistemology of Spirit Beliefs. He explores how cultural experiences can justify these beliefs, challenging the assumption that they are mere aberrations. Van Eyghen distinguishes between encounters with spirits and God, and he discusses the implications of mediumship and possession. He also argues that traditional scientific explanations fall short in understanding spirit experiences, paving the way for future research on cognition and ritual.