In Ego-Centricity and Mysticism, German philosopher Ernst Tugendhat draws from his previous work on ethics, the philosophy of language, the philosophy of action, and phenomenology to illuminate the profound need of humans for mental tranquility or peace of mind.
This need arises from the turmoil that humans experience, uniquely among all animals, which in turn stems from their peculiar self-referentiality. Humans, regardless of cultural peculiarities, are distinguished from other animals because they speak a propositional language, can say "I," and regard themselves as significant.
However, human ego-centricity, the concern for oneself, and the fear of death give rise to this feeling of relentless internal agitation and the need for mental peace. An essential aspect of mystical notions in both the East and the West is precisely the transcendence or relativization of our ego-centricity, the liberation from self-concern, or its calming.
Tugendhat, after analyzing how self-reference and improvisation are linguistically structured, explores the theme of withdrawal from the self in the traditions of India and China, where its roots are predominantly found. He also examines the characteristics of religion and mysticism, while tracing signs of mysticism in the Western philosophical tradition, as evidenced by the attention given to the capacity and experience of awe, wonder, and gratitude, which also require us to take a step back from our ego-centricity, thus allowing a perspective that distracts us from the center.
In this remarkable book, Tugendhat develops a form of philosophical anthropology that reintroduces existential questions about life, death, and their significance in shaping our relationship with ourselves and the world.
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