Hypnosis and Reality: About That Which Is Overlooked

This chapter is developed around the discussion on the absolute notion of reality, which is hegemonic in the modern paradigm of science. Through a historical and epistemological reflection on names such as Mesmer, Puységur, Charcot, Freud, and Erickson, it highlights how notions linked to Firstness have been systematically left aside in the study of hypnosis. It emphasizes the role of Milton Erickson’s work—the most essential reference on hypnosis for this book—whose innovative hypnotic approach seemed to have created a broad understanding of hypnosis as an elusive field. Based on some Erickson’s case studies, the chapter discusses some notions of reality related to Peircean categories of chance (related to Firstness), existents (Secondness), and law (Thirdness), considering some essential technical principles such as the utilization approach, and the indirect forms of suggestion. Thus, De-sign proposes the integration of the phenomenological categories, intending to emphasize that notions such as feelings, imagination, and qualities can become central for inquiry on hypnosis.