Closer To Truth Can Near-Death Experiences Affect Consciousness Theories?
Aug 27, 2025
Etzel Cardeña, a leading researcher on out-of-body and near-death experiences, dives into the fascinating realm of consciousness. He explores how these profound experiences could reshape our understanding of reality and self. The discussion highlights the interplay between idealism and consciousness, questions materialistic views, and delves into the subjective nature of NDEs and OBEs. Cardeña encourages a skeptical yet open-minded approach to these phenomena, suggesting significant implications for beliefs about life after death.
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Expanded Self From Weakened Dissociation
- Bernardo Kastrup says near-death experiences reflect weakened dissociation and an expanded field of subjectivity.
- He connects this to idealism: the self's boundary becomes porous, producing broader identification than the body.
OBEs As Memory Interpolations
- Kastrup doubts literal out-of-body souls and suggests OBEs are interpolations of memories or transpersonal information.
- He proposes experiencers construct worlds from picked-up memories, not direct perception of the physical world.
Hypnosis-Induced Out-Of-Body Reports
- Etzel Cardeña recounts a study where highly hypnotizable subjects spontaneously reported leaving their bodies during deep hypnosis.
- He notes most couldn't later report verifiable external details, suggesting subjective creation rather than literal travel.
