Anagogy is the “reasoning upwards” (sursum ductio), when, from the visible, the invisible action is disclosed or revealed. In medieval theology, anagogy was the heaven-projecting complement to the earthly-projecting allegory. Anagogical reasoning has been deprecated in modernity; indeed, such reasoning is often derided as “woo” or “magical thinking”.
In the eastern mystical traditions, anagogical reasoning is only accessible from a state of enlightenment. In the Jewish Essene cult that was contemporaneous with conservative Sadducee and leftist Pharisee schools, the highest form of Scripture interpretation was called ‘inspired exegesis’.
Neuromythography revives anagogy as a first-class reasoning method, but instead of Scripture it is applied to the scientific literature and the brain. This may sound to some like madness, to which one can reply by invoking Emily Dickinson:
Much Madness is divinest Sense –
To a discerning Eye –
Much Sense – the starkest Madness –
’Tis the Majority
In this, as all, prevail –
Assent – and you are sane –
Demur – you’re straightway dangerous –
And handled with a Chain –