The Bodhisattva's Brain: Buddhism Naturalized

by Owen Flanagan

Overview

This fascinating introduction to the intersection between religion, neuroscience, and moral philosophy asks: Can there be a Buddhism without karma, nirvana, and reincarnation that is compatible with the rest of knowledge?

If we are material beings living in a material world—and all the scientific evidence suggests that we are—then we must find existential meaning, if there is such a thing, in this physical world. We must cast our lot with the natural rather than the supernatural. Many Westerners with spiritual (but not religious) inclinations are attracted to Buddhism—almost as a kind of moral-mental hygiene. But, as Owen Flanagan points out in The Bodhisattva's Brain, Buddhism is hardly naturalistic. In The Bodhisattva's Brain, Flanagan argues that it is possible to discover in Buddhism a rich, empirically responsible philosophy that could point us to one path of human flourishing.

Some claim that neuroscience is in the process of validating Buddhism empirically, but Flanagan'’ naturalized Buddhism does not reduce itself to a brain scan showing happiness patterns. “Buddhism naturalized,” as Flanagan constructs it, offers instead a fully naturalistic and comprehensive philosophy, compatible with the rest of knowledge—a way of conceiving of the human predicament, of thinking about meaning for finite material beings living in a material world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262525206
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	09/13/2013
Series:	A Bradford Book
Pages:	280
Sales rank:	745,504
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Owen Flanagan is James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy at Duke University. He is the author of Consciousness Reconsidered and The Really Hard Problem: Meaning in a Material World, both published by the MIT Press, and other books.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction: Buddhism Naturalized 1

I An Essay in Comparative Neurophilosophy

1 The Bodhisattva's Brain 9

2 The Color of Happiness 37

3 Buddhist Epistemology and Science 59

II Buddhism as a Natural Philosophy

4 Selfless Persons 93

5 Being No-Self and Being Nice 115

6 Virtue and Happiness 165

Postscript: Cosmopolitanism and Comparative Philosophy 203

Notes 209

References 237

Index 249

What People are Saying About This

Patricia Churchland

"In this masterpiece of insight and clarity, Flanagan takes us on a profound but still personal journey, as he contrasts philosophies of life held by Westerners and those held by Buddhists. Ever true to the path that logic carves,
shrewdly sensitive to the human search for happiness, and with a unique accumulation of knowledge, Flanagan has given us something very new: comparative neurophilosophy." -- Patricia S. Churchland, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego

Alasdair MacIntyre

"What has Buddhism to teach us about human flourishing? What has neuroscience to teach us both about human flourishing and about the claims of Buddhism? Owen Flanagan's adventurous and intriguing pursuit of answers to these questions is matched by the impressive ingenuity of his attempts to accommodate those answers to the commitments of scientific naturalism." -- Alasdair MacIntyre, author of After Virtue and Whose Justice? Which Rationality?

Endorsement

In this masterpiece of insight and clarity, Flanagan takes us on a profound but still personal journey, as he contrasts philosophies of life held by Westerners and those held by Buddhists. Ever true to the path that logic carves, shrewdly sensitive to the human search for happiness, and with a unique accumulation of knowledge, Flanagan has given us something very new: comparative neurophilosophy.

—Patricia Churchland, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego

From the Publisher

Buddhist doctrines about meditation, compassion, and well-being have begun to greatly enrich the scientific study of the human mind—but we have long needed a careful analysis of the philosophical merits of these ideas. In The Bodhisattva's Brain, Flanagan has delivered it in fine style. This is an unusually wise and useful book.

—Sam Harris, author of the New York Times best sellers, The Moral Landscape, Letter to a Christian Nation, and The End of Faith

What has Buddhism to teach us about human flourishing? What has neuroscience to teach us both about human flourishing and about the claims of Buddhism? Owen Flanagan's adventurous and intriguing pursuit of answers to these questions is matched by the impressive ingenuity of his attempts to accommodate those answers to the commitments of scientific naturalism.

—Alasdair MacIntyre, author of After Virtue and Whose Justice? Which Rationality?

In this masterpiece of insight and clarity, Flanagan takes us on a profound but still personal journey, as he contrasts philosophies of life held by Westerners and those held by Buddhists. Ever true to the path that logic carves, shrewdly sensitive to the human search for happiness, and with a unique accumulation of knowledge, Flanagan has given us something very new: comparative neurophilosophy.

—Patricia Churchland, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego

Sam Harris

"Buddhist doctrines about meditation, compassion, and well-being have begun to greatly enrich the scientific study of the human mind--but we have long needed a careful analysis of the philosophical merits of these ideas. In
The Bodhisattva's Brain, Flanagan has delivered it in fine style.
This is an unusually wise and useful book." -- Sam Harris, author of the New York Times best sellers, The Moral Landscape, Letter to a Christian Nation, and
The End of Faith

Editorial Reviews

"...if you are interested in current debates at the interface between religion, science and moral philosophy, there is much in this book that will engage you."
—Rupert Gethin, Times Higher Education

"Brilliant...Flanagan brings much needed clarity, insight and sophistication to the debate."
—Julian Baggini, The Observer

"I can't recommend this book enough. It's thoughtful in the best sense of the word. It you're a Buddhist (or someone leaning towards Buddhism) who likes to wrestle with philosophical issues, it will help you to think things through more clearly. If you are a Buddhist who is inclined toward Naturalism, it's always nice to find another ally. Best of all, it's fun to read."
—Seth Segall, The Existential Buddhist

"It is true that science has yet to produce good explanations of consciousness, value and free will. The suggestion brought to the fore by Flanagan—that Buddhism may be a source of insight in these areas—is a welcome and tantalizing one."
—Nature

"The most important question may be whether the cultivation of Buddhist virtues will lead to the sort of happiness that comes with the sense that...life has meaning and value...Flanagan has many insightful things to say about this claim."
—The Philosopher's Magazine

"Owen Flanagan writes with warmth, wisdom and wit. The Bodhisattva's Brain is a milestone of cosmopolitan thought and should be read widely by philosophers, cognitive scientists, theologians and anyone concerned with human flourishing and the meaning of life."
—Times Literary Supplement

"A trailblazing work which opens up new horizons for exciting comparative work in philosophy and psychology."
—Mind

"Scholars and cognoscenti of Buddhism may find this a somewhat frustrating book; but all interested in Buddhism may read it and find discussions of interest and value...Above all, Flanagan has put on the table the issue of what a naturalized Buddhism is. If Buddhism is to move into the West significantly, I think it will have to go this way. The book, then, opens the way for many important future debates."
—Philosophical Quarterly

From the Publisher

Scholars and cognoscenti of Buddhism may find this a somewhat frustrating book; but all interested in Buddhism may read it and find discussions of interest and value...Above all, Flanagan has put on the table the issue of what a naturalized Buddhism is. If Buddhism is to move into the West significantly, I think it will have to go this way. The book, then, opens the way for many important future debates.

—Philosophical Quarterly

Reviews

Scholars and cognoscenti of Buddhism may find this a somewhat frustrating book; but all interested in Buddhism may read it and find discussions of interest and value...Above all, Flanagan has put on the table the issue of what a naturalized Buddhism is. If Buddhism is to move into the West significantly, I think it will have to go this way. The book, then, opens the way for many important future debates.

Philosophical Quarterly

A trailblazing work which opens up new horizons for exciting comparative work in philosophy and psychology.

Mind

Owen Flanagan writes with warmth, wisdom and wit. The Bodhisattva's Brain is a milestone of cosmopolitan thought and should be read widely by philosophers, cognitive scientists, theologians and anyone concerned with human flourishing and the meaning of life.

Times Literary Supplement

[T]he most important question may be whether the cultivation of Buddhist virtues will lead to the sort of happiness that comes with the sense that...life has meaning and value...Flanagan has many insightful things to say about this claim.

The Philosopher's Magazine

It is true that science has yet to produce good explanations of consciousness, value and free will. The suggestion brought to the fore by Flanagan—that Buddhism may be a source of insight in these areas—is a welcome and tantalizing one.

Nature

I can't recommend this book enough. It's thoughtful in the best sense of the word. It you're a Buddhist (or someone leaning towards Buddhism) who likes to wrestle with philosophical issues, it will help you to think things through more clearly. If you are a Buddhist who is inclined toward Naturalism, it's always nice to find another ally. Best of all, it's fun to read.

The Existential Buddhist - Seth Segall

Brilliant...Flanagan brings much needed clarity, insight and sophistication to the debate.

The Observer - Julian Baggini

...if you are interested in current debates at the interface between religion, science and moral philosophy, there is much in this book that will engage you.

Times Higher Education - Rupert Gethin