I think it would be more helpful if you would be clearer about the terms you use. In the headline you speak about metaphysical claims and then you speak about fairly wild claims about reality.
In the classic meaning of the term metaphysical the category points to claims that aren’t about direct physical reality. Ontological claims about the nature of knowledge are metaphysical claims that aren’t claims about physical reality.
Many people don’t question the metaphysical assumptions they learned as a child when they are adults. It’s an inherent part of contemplative practice to become skeptical of those metaphysical assumptions that are learned in childhood and to develop new views on the involved subjects.
The process of having your own assumptions fail can be very discomforting and it’s comfortable to simply fill the gaps with whatever is offered. The New Age community is quite willing to provide easily digestible answers that allow people to get out of the uncomfortable state and adopt views that often aren’t better then the naive ones picked up in childhood.
I think it would be more helpful if you would be clearer about the terms you use. In the headline you speak about metaphysical claims and then you speak about fairly wild claims about reality.
In the classic meaning of the term metaphysical the category points to claims that aren’t about direct physical reality. Ontological claims about the nature of knowledge are metaphysical claims that aren’t claims about physical reality.
Many people don’t question the metaphysical assumptions they learned as a child when they are adults. It’s an inherent part of contemplative practice to become skeptical of those metaphysical assumptions that are learned in childhood and to develop new views on the involved subjects.
The process of having your own assumptions fail can be very discomforting and it’s comfortable to simply fill the gaps with whatever is offered. The New Age community is quite willing to provide easily digestible answers that allow people to get out of the uncomfortable state and adopt views that often aren’t better then the naive ones picked up in childhood.
this is helpful, thanks!