4 research outputs found
Contributions of neuropsychology to the study of ancient literature
The present work introduces the neuropsychological paradigm as a new approach to
studying ancient literature. In the first part of the article, an epistemological framework
for the proper use of neuropsychology in relation to ancient literature is presented.
The article then discusses neuropsychological methods of studying different human
experiences and dimensions already addressed by ancient literatures. The experiences
of human encounters with gods among ancient cultures are first considered, through
the contributions of Julian Jaynes and Eric R. Dodds. The concepts of right and left in
the Bible, and that of soul are then discussed. Ecstatic experience in Paul of Tarsus
is also presented, with a particular focus on glossolalia. Neuroscientific differences
between mindful and unitive meditative practices are then described referring to ancient
Buddhist literature, and finally a brief description of dreams in ancient Greek literature
is proposed. Neuropsychology variously enables a more profound understanding of
themes characterizing human experiences that ancient literature has already explored;
these investigations prove that the collaboration of neuroscience and humanistic studies
can return fruitful and interesting results