The Cognitive Foundations of Reincarnation

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" The Cognitive Foundations of Reincarnation "
Claire White

Document Type	:	AL
Record Number	:	1077899
Doc. No	:	LA121528
Call No	:	‭10.1163/15700682-12341381‬
Language of Document	:	English
Main Entry	:	Claire White
Title & Author	:	The Cognitive Foundations of Reincarnation [Article]\ Claire White
Publication Statement	:	Leiden: Brill
Title of Periodical	:	Method Theory in the Study of Religion
Date	:	2016
Volume/ Issue Number	:	28/3
Page No	:	264–286
Abstract	:	Anthropological records and psychological studies demonstrate the recurrence of ideas about how to determine the identity of reincarnated persons. These ideas are often incoherent with corresponding theological dogma about the process of reincarnation. Specifically, even though reincarnation is represented as a process of change, people often seek out and interpret particular similarities between the deceased and reincarnated agent as evidence that the two are one and the same person. This paper argues that panhuman cognitive tendencies explain, in part, the spread and recurrence of ideas about what provides evidence of reincarnation: specifically, representations of reincarnated agents are informed and constrained by everyday cognitive intuitions that govern representations of continued identity for intentional agents generally. The paper concludes that these constraints go some way towards explaining the recurrent features of reincarnation concepts and behaviors cross-culturally. Anthropological records and psychological studies demonstrate the recurrence of ideas about how to determine the identity of reincarnated persons. These ideas are often incoherent with corresponding theological dogma about the process of reincarnation. Specifically, even though reincarnation is represented as a process of change, people often seek out and interpret particular similarities between the deceased and reincarnated agent as evidence that the two are one and the same person. This paper argues that panhuman cognitive tendencies explain, in part, the spread and recurrence of ideas about what provides evidence of reincarnation: specifically, representations of reincarnated agents are informed and constrained by everyday cognitive intuitions that govern representations of continued identity for intentional agents generally. The paper concludes that these constraints go some way towards explaining the recurrent features of reincarnation concepts and behaviors cross-culturally.
Descriptor	:	cognitive science of religion
Descriptor	:	personal identity
Descriptor	:	reincarnation
Descriptor	:	theological incorrectness
Location & Call number	:	‭10.1163/15700682-12341381‬