Could physicalism be compatible with Buddhist goals and practices? Mark Siderits considers a question that has the potential to altogether change our understanding of Buddhism. Buddhist Physicalism? is by necessity a work of fusion philosophy -- a conversation between two distinct philosophical traditions. In drawing from the Buddhist philosophical tradition, as well as recent work in philosophy of mind, it attempts to mediate this conversation and answer two vexing questions in philosophy and Buddhism: might Buddhism be compatible with modern naturalism, and is consciousness something existing over and above the body and brain? Examining both Buddhist philosophy and practice, Siderits considers the privileged place of consciousness in Buddhist ontologies, exploring its compatibility with the sort of analysis and argumentation prevalent in the Buddhist tradition. He then brings in contemporary voices from philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and developmental psychology to see what they might offer to the development of a Buddhist physicalism. No matter the case, the question of Buddhism's compatibility with physicalism will remain open. The question mark in his title indicates that Siderits takes seriously the question, and the related 'hard problem' of phenomenal consciousness. In doing so, he presents a compelling and comprehensive analysis of some of philosophy's most confounding issues, and asks the crucial question: Buddhist physicalism?
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Introduction: The Question Mark Chapter 1: Metaphysics and the Buddhist Project Chapter 2: Buddhist Metaphysical Scruples Chapter 3: Consciousness in Early Buddhism and the Abhidharma Schools Chapter 4: Meta-Cognition and the Reflexivity Thesis Chapter 5: Some Current Controversies Concerning Consciousness Chapter 6: Becoming Minded Chapter 7: The Problem of Phenomenal Consciousness Chapter 8: Assessing the Plausibility of a Buddhist Physicalism
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Mark Siderits is Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at Illinois State University, was also Professor of Philosophy at Seoul National University, and has lectured at Kyoto University. He is the author of numerous books, including The Buddha's Teachings As Philosophy (2022), How Things Are (2021), and, with Shoryu Katsura, Nagarjuna's Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarika(2014). He has made groundbreaking contributions to the study and practice of Buddhism in his extraordinary career, and a collection of his papers on Buddhist philosophy, Studies in Buddhist Philosophy, was published by OUP in 2016.
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Selling point: Considers two seemingly-opposisional philosophies: Buddhism and physicalism Selling point: Approches the hard problem of consciousness through a Buddhist framework Selling point: Written by an authoritative scholar in the field
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780197799666
Publisert
2025
Utgiver
Oxford University Press Inc
Vekt
503 gr
Høyde
237 mm
Bredde
168 mm
Dybde
22 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
240

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Mark Siderits is Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at Illinois State University, was also Professor of Philosophy at Seoul National University, and has lectured at Kyoto University. He is the author of numerous books, including The Buddha's Teachings As Philosophy (2022), How Things Are (2021), and, with Shoryu Katsura, Nagarjuna's Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarika(2014). He has made groundbreaking contributions to the study and practice of Buddhism in his extraordinary career, and a collection of his papers on Buddhist philosophy, Studies in Buddhist Philosophy, was published by OUP in 2016.