摘要：
In this paper I identify a link between the problem of explaining
anomalous access to information (‘psi’ or ‘psychic
ability’) and the problem of giving an account of the nature
of consciousness (‘the mind-body problem’). I argue
that progress with understanding psi requires selecting a suitable
ontological model for dealing with the mind-body problem. I review
alternatives and argue, on philosophical and empirical grounds,
for the viability and suitability of a model I call Naturalistic
Structural Dualism, in which minds are spatially extended substances,
as a working hypothesis for further analysis. I conclude that in
such a dualistic model psychic ability is best conceptualised as
mediated by sensori-motor channels of the mind. I predict, from
this, the existence of further sensory channels that engage with
purely mental aspects of reality. I show that there is empirical
support for this theoretical proposal, and argue that this sensory
capacity, which I name axionesis, underpins both ordinary
perceptiveness and our capacity for deep spiritual experiences.
The outcome is an expansion of the concept of psi to reference two
distinct groups of sensori-motor channels of the mind, one group
relating to the classical concept of psychic ability (and reflecting
the mind’s direct engagement with physical aspects
of reality) and one group relating to the classical concept of spirituality
(and reflecting the mind’s direct engagement with mental aspects
of reality). By establishing a relationship between spiritual perception
and sensory channels of the mind, a framework is created
that enables the study of spirituality in terms of information theory.
