Vicious Abstractionism

Referenced in 1 episode

Definition

A concept introduced by William James which suggests that excessive reliance on abstract thinking can lead to disconnection from reality and suffering.

Related episodes

The Abstract Mind with Chris Niebauer

New Thinking AllowedAug 12, 2026

Cognitive neuropsychologist Chris Niebauer argues that modern suffering comes from mistaking mental abstractions, such as ownership, nations, the self and even psychiatric diagnoses, for real, directly experienced reality. Drawing on William James, Alfred North Whitehead, left-right brain research and Advaita Vedanta, he challenges what he calls the 'cult of materialism' and suggests that consciousness creates the idea of matter rather than the other way around. He proposes direct, sensory experience as the antidote to abstraction and frames even suffering as part of consciousness's playful cosmic adventure.

FS 4