Leiden University Student Repository

Pollaert, Eline (2016)

Ancient Dreams and Modern Approaches: An exploratory application of cognitive science of religion to book 3 and 4 of the Oneirokritika by Artemidorus of Daldis

Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)

Cognitive science of religion studies how religious ideas and behavior are conceptualized and processed in the human brain. A Standard Model has been developed to unite and operationalize its major principles. However, this is still largely a theoretical model. As of yet, not much empirical testing “in the wild” has been carried out with it. This thesis particularly goes into one aspect of the Standard Model: the concept of counterintuitivity. This concept states that in order for a religious idea to be remembered and transmitted it should not be too common, but not too strange either. By applying the concept of counterintuitivity to the ancient author Artemidorus of Daldis, the aim of this thesis is twofold. On the one hand, it will establish whether this concept from the Standard Model in its current (mostly theoretical) form is indeed applicable to data outside empirically controlled environments. On the other hand, it will help us to get a clearer view on Artemidorus’ method for...Show moreCognitive science of religion studies how religious ideas and behavior are conceptualized and processed in the human brain. A Standard Model has been developed to unite and operationalize its major principles. However, this is still largely a theoretical model. As of yet, not much empirical testing “in the wild” has been carried out with it. This thesis particularly goes into one aspect of the Standard Model: the concept of counterintuitivity. This concept states that in order for a religious idea to be remembered and transmitted it should not be too common, but not too strange either. By applying the concept of counterintuitivity to the ancient author Artemidorus of Daldis, the aim of this thesis is twofold. On the one hand, it will establish whether this concept from the Standard Model in its current (mostly theoretical) form is indeed applicable to data outside empirically controlled environments. On the other hand, it will help us to get a clearer view on Artemidorus’ method for interpreting dreams.Show less

Cognitive science of religion

Artemidorus of Daldis

Oneirokritika

Counterintuitivity

Author

Pollaert, Eline

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Beerden, Kim

ECTS Credits

25

Language

en