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Heaven and Hell (essay)

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171:. Essentially, Huxley defines these "antipodes" of the mind as mental states that one may reach when certain parts of one's brain are disabled (namely the parts associated with filtering information and signals entering the brain) and can then be conscious of certain "regions of the mind" that one would otherwise never be able to pay attention to, due to the lack of biological/utilitarian usefulness. Huxley states that while these states of mind are biologically useless, they are nonetheless spiritually significant, and furthermore, are the singular 'regions' of the mind from which all religions are derived. For example, he says that the Medieval Christians frequently experienced "visions" of Heaven and Hell during the winter, when their diets were severely hampered by lack of critical nutrients in their food supplies (vitamin B, vitamin C)—these people frequently contracted 773: 29: 175:
and other deficiencies, causing them to hallucinate. He also said that Christians and other religions fast in order to make themselves delirious, thus inducing visions and views of these "antipodes of the mind". Today, Huxley says people can reach these states of mind without harm to their bodies
153:, art, and profound experience. Heaven and Hell metaphorically refer to what Huxley conceives to be two contrary mystical experiences that potentially await when one opens the "doors of perception"—not only in a mystical experience, but in prosaic life. 176:
with the aid of certain drugs. Essentially, Huxley says this state of mind allows a person to be conscious of things that would not normally concern him because they have nothing to do with the typical concerns of the world.
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to describe the "regions of the mind" that one can reach via meditation, vitamin deficiencies, self-flagellation, fasting, sleep deprivation, or (most effectively, he says) with the aid of certain chemical substances like
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Huxley derived the title from 789: 204:1977 Harpercollins (UK), mass market paperback: 281: 504:" (1940s; radio script 1956; published 1997) 199:The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell 288: 274: 27: 790: 459:Two or Three Graces and Other Stories 269: 224:2004 Harper Modern Classics edition: 531:The Discovery: A Comedy in Five Acts 475:After the Fireworks: Three Novellas 13: 14: 834: 295: 247: 772: 771: 451:Little Mexican and Other Stories 234:2004 Sagebrush library binding: 214:1990 Harper Perennial edition: 146:The Marriage of Heaven and Hell 511:" (1944; children's book 1967) 1: 135:is a philosophical essay by 7: 818:Harper & Brothers books 192: 16:1956 essay by Aldous Huxley 10: 839: 600:Science, Liberty and Peace 401:The Genius and the Goddess 813:Chatto & Windus books 767: 708: 665: 630: 583: 548: 541: 522: 493: 426: 419: 312: 303: 179:In his earlier narrative 120: 104: 94: 84: 68: 58: 48: 38: 26: 592:The Perennial Philosophy 509:The Crows of Pearblossom 808:Essays by Aldous Huxley 608:The Doors of Perception 483:Collected Short Stories 182:The Doors of Perception 803:Psychedelic literature 639:Beyond the Mexique Bay 573:Literature and Science 502:Jacob's Hands: A Fable 377:Time Must Have a Stop 156:Huxley uses the term 78:Harper & Brothers 717:The Devils of Loudun 393:The Devils of Loudun 698:A Woman's Vengeance 674:Pride and Prejudice 369:After Many a Summer 345:Point Counter Point 337:Those Barren Leaves 73:Chatto & Windus 23: 685:(uncredited, 1943) 21: 785: 784: 655:The Art of Seeing 626: 625: 518: 517: 128: 127: 95:Publication place 830: 775: 774: 546: 545: 424: 423: 290: 283: 276: 267: 266: 86:Publication date 33:First US edition 31: 24: 22:Heaven and Hell 20: 838: 837: 833: 832: 831: 829: 828: 827: 788: 787: 786: 781: 763: 757:Brave New World 749:Brave New World 741:Brave New World 704: 661: 622: 616:Heaven and Hell 579: 537: 514: 489: 415: 385:Ape and Essence 361:Eyeless in Gaza 353:Brave New World 308: 299: 294: 255:Heaven and Hell 250: 195: 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Index


Aldous Huxley
English
Philosophy
Chatto & Windus
Harper & Brothers
United Kingdom
Hardback
Paperback
Aldous Huxley
William Blake
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
psychoactives
antipodes
LSD
mescaline
Scurvy
The Doors of Perception
mescaline
ISBN
0-586-04437-X
ISBN
0-06-090007-5
ISBN
0-06-059518-3
ISBN
1-4176-2859-6
Heaven and Hell
Faded Page
v

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