What is spirituality? The challenges of a philosophical definition
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21394711 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Doris Reisinger (0000-0002-5092-9884, Goethe University Frankfurt, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 117-131 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sophia (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-1527 • E-ISSN: 1873-930X |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11841-024-01034-w |
| OpenAlex | W4400960661 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 37 |
In recent years, there have been a number of philosophical publications focusing on spirituality. But even in pertinent philosophical texts it is rare to find attempts at shaping a workable definition of spirituality, despite the obvious need for a clear definition for the philosophical debate on spirituality. This paper addresses the major issues in shaping a satisfactory definition of spirituality: an understanding of spirituality as transcendence of critical reasoning, the broadness of the concept, the implications of various scholarly backgrounds and the challenge of avoiding a circular definition. It suggests a rough clustering of common approaches into ontological, ethical, and functional definitions and discusses their weaknesses. It is argued that an inclusive, metaphysically parsimonious, and stipulative definition is the best way to address typical difficulties and avoid weaknesses of common definitions. Finally, it proposes a definition based on meaning, a term that often appears in the discussion of spirituality. It is suggested that understanding meaning in the ordinary sense of the word might be a good starting point to arrive at a satisfactory definition of spirituality
Epistemology · Meaning (existential) · Metaphysics · Philosophy of religion · Sociology · Spirituality · Transcendence (philosophy) · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Philosophy · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
The Really Hard Problem
The Spiritual Dimension
Concerns About Measuring “Spirituality” in Research
Spirituality in the Academy
Grand Narratives of Spirituality
Spiritual, but not Religious
Spirituality in Psychology of Religion
An exploration of spiritual superiority
Life's Values
On the Meaning of Life
Spirituality
Toward defining spirituality
Speaking of Meaning in Modernity
Religion and Spirituality
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |