Philosophy For Our Times The search for higher states of consciousness | Philosopher Jessica Frazier
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Jan 13, 2026 In this engaging discussion, Jessica Frazier, a theology and religion lecturer at Oxford specializing in Indian philosophy, dives into the quest for higher states of consciousness. She opens up about childhood curiosities that sparked her philosophical journey. Key topics include contrasting views of the self—from Buddhist to Cartesian—and the ways imagination and meditation can help transcend modern alienation. With insights on various 'higher selves,' Frazier invites listeners to explore deeper layers of existence, emphasizing creativity and presence as pathways to fulfillment.
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Childhood Yearning For More
- Jessica Frazier recounts her childhood longing for dragons, magic and a life beyond routine.
- That early sense of wanting 'something more' frames her study of mystical traditions and higher consciousness.
Multiple Metaphors For The Self
- Frazier maps several metaphors for the self: ghost in the machine, self-driving car, dream, spotlight.
- These images reveal competing intuitions about whether we are passive, illusory, limited, or imaginative travelers in being.
Modernity Shrinks Possibility
- Frazier suggests modern life makes us feel like victims of external forces, producing existential malaise.
- Losing a sense of future possibilities is a core part of that malaise and ties to midlife crisis feelings.
