Originally posted by Mindship
Empirical science is in no position to explore a transcendent reality (ie, a reality beyond matter and mind). However, theoretically, one could use scientific method to explore transcendent realities, as long as the tools used and the data collected reflect the domain being studied.For example, while it is entirely sound to use a microscope to study the brain, it would not be fair to use a microscope to study the mind (to do so would be to commit a category error). Likewise, it would not be fair to use a telescope or mathematics to prove the existence of a transcendent God.
Traditionally, meditation is the tool of choice for exploring phenomena of insight, ie, opening the eye of contemplation, as opposed to relying on the eye of flesh or eye of reason. And as for determining whether these insights are valid, one could take the same route as with "facts" revealed by empirical science: how well do these insights enable one to understand the world, to make testable predictions? Of course, any correlation of insight with physical phenomena would be a bonus.
I completely agree.
A transcendent part of reality cannot be understood with empirical tools. A trained intuition and perception might be required for that, and in the same way science is not so simple to understand, a trained intuition and perception could be something not so simple to develop.
The trancendental reality itself is beyond any type of rational analysis, but reason and science can be useful when testing measurable implications about that transcendental reality.