Philosophical meditation in the West
Interdisciplinary Research in Counseling, Ethics and Philosophy - IRCEP December 20, 2023 Patrizia Cipolletta
Western meditation was lost after Descartes, whose subject-object split turned thinking into detached reflection. Twentieth-century philosophy questioned the cogito but did not restore meditation. Philosophical practice can revive meditation by allowing emotions to live, be welcomed, and mellow. Meditation also serves as a continuous source of comparison for philosophical practitioners, helping them preserve humility, dismiss authority, and welcome the guest without manipulation, by listening while challenging their own preconceived ideas and past emotions.