Is Secular Buddhism Possible?
The question whether secular Buddhism is possible might seem absurd at first. Varieties of what has been, or could be called âsecular Buddhismâ have been around for well over a century, and there is a sizable group of people who consider themselves âsecular Buddhistsâ. So, of course, âsecular Buddhismâ is possible. So, letâs be a bit more precise. My question is not really whether there are âthingsâ (in a rather broad sense of âthingâ) that could be or have been called âsecular Buddhismâ, but whether there could be something that is genuinely secular and simultaneously genuinely (a variety of) Buddhism....
Mythos, Wisdom, and Scavenger Philosophy
According to Karl Jaspers, philosophy arose in the âAxial Ageâ as a kind of critical reflection on myth and tradition. Nowadays, there is widespread agreement among historians of ideas that the notion of an âAxial Ageâ is itself a myth, but I think that the other part of Jaspersâ idea is right, that is, philosophy indeed originates in critical reflection on myth and tradition. This doesnât mean that this defines the scope and purpose of philosophy, of course â as a âmatureâ discipline, philosophy mostly reflects on itself â but I believe that reflection on this idea about the origins...
On Selfish and Selfless Readings of Buddhist Scripture
In Indian religions and philosophy, mokᚣa â the escape from the cycle of death and rebirth (saášsÄra) and, thereby, the liberation from suffering (dukkha) â is (typically) the ultimate goal of (oneâs/my/your) life. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other schools of thought disagree about various details â Buddhists prefer the term nirvÄáša instead of mokᚣa, for example â but all accept a version of the doctrine that right (non-) action leads to good karma, which leads to better rebirth, and ultimately to mokᚣa. That ultimate goal is a selfish goal, however â the ultimate aim of my right (non-) action (regardless...
On Secular and Radical Buddhism
In a number of influential books and articles, Stephen Batchelor has proposed, developed, and defended something he has called (among others) âsecular Buddhismâ and âBuddhism 2.0â. The idea of such a secular or scientific or naturalistic or otherwise not traditionally religious kind of Buddhism isnât new â it has been especially popular among 20th and 21st Western converts to Buddhism, but there have been Asian precursors as well. Nevertheless, the idea is also somewhat controversial. Adherents of âsecular Buddhismâ like Batchelor typically consider it a return to the roots of Buddhism and to the original teachings of the Buddha, but...
The (Self-) Corruption of Critique
This is a lightly edited excerpt from my book/pamphlet The Hegemony of Psychopathy. * * * Hegemony is the spread of ideas (such as values and beliefs) that support and maintain the socio-political status quo. Alternative sources of ideas can (at least in principle) undermine hegemony, but if hegemony is effective, then alternative ideas are often not taken seriously, or may even undermine themselves. If hegemony is effective, then the belief that there is no alternative becomes common sense, turning proposed alternatives (i.e. alternatives for common sense) into obvious non-sense. This is how hegemony undermines critique: by making it âirrational.â...