What is transcendence, how did it evolve, and is it beneficial?. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gorelik, Gregory; Shackelford, Todd K.
• Is Part Of: Religion, brain & behavior. Volume 7:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Transcendence -- Hilbert problem -- evolutionary psychology -- selflessness; Psychology and religion -- Periodicals; Religion and culture -- Periodicals; Psychology and religion; Religion and culture; Periodicals; 200.1
• DOI: 10.1080/2153599X.2016.1249928
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2153-599X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Transcendence is an important subject of investigation within the scientific study of religion and beyond, and as such, presents a Hilbert problem that must be addressed. We lay out three subcomponents of this problem: (1) what is transcendence; (2) what are its evolutionary antecedents; and (3) is it beneficial? We argue that transcendence should primarily be understood as a psychological state of "selflessness" whose evolutionary antecedents suggest four semi-distinct types of transcendence (see Gorelik, G. (2016). The evolution of transcendence. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 2 (4), 287307.): (1) social transcendence, (2) theory of mind (ToM) transcendence, (3) aesthetic transcendence, and (4) epistemic transcendence. We conclude with some thoughts on the dangers of transcendence.