JAN WESTERHOFF (Durham University)
Formal responses by JAKE DAVIS (CUNY Graduate Center)
"Buddhism without reincarnation? Examining the prospects of a "naturalized Buddhism."
This talk will examine the concept of a "naturalized" Buddhism, that is of
a Buddhism made compatible with the various assumptions and
presuppositions of present-day natural science. I shall be particularly
interested in attempts of developing a version of Buddhism that does not
assume continuity of mind after the death of the physical body, and
therefore also does not assume the existence of reincarnation. I discuss
one problem for this version of Buddhism, namely the question why on this
understanding nirvana (understood as the final end of all suffering) could
not be achieved by suicide. After considering some possible responses to
this problem the second half of my talk will examine two traditional
Buddhist arguments for mental continuity after death, as well as
discussing the compatibility of some contemporary views of the nature of
the mental with the Buddhist theory of mind.
Friday - March 30th, 2012
5:30-7:30 pm
Rm. 101 in the Department of Religion 80 Claremont Avenue
