mysticism

[From Greek mustikos: relating to the ancient mystery religions or their adherents; later, having to do with any sacred mystery.]

  1. (epistemology) Any belief in the existence and validity of a human cognitive power above reason or perception -- usually a kind of intuition or feeling that enables a person to obtain special insights into god, values, or the nature of the universe. The term "mysticism" usually carries religious connotations; similar views in philosophy are irrationalism in epistemology and intuitionism in ethics.

the ism book