Colette Sciberras
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- June 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190456023
- eISBN:
- 9780190456054
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190456023.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This chapter compares Western philosophical and scientific foundations with Buddhist philosophies on the topic of flourishing in nature. It argues that flourishing is good by querying the purpose of ...
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This chapter compares Western philosophical and scientific foundations with Buddhist philosophies on the topic of flourishing in nature. It argues that flourishing is good by querying the purpose of nature, the existence of God and the good. Defining flourishing in terms of Aristotle’s final cause, and questioning some of the assumptions of the founders of modern science, the chapter presents a common quandary—whether science and faith are reconcilable. Through attempting to steer a Middle way between belief in eternal souls, gods and divine purposes, and the depressing conclusions of nihilists and (some) atheists, it suggests that Buddhism can be seen as scientific, if the definition of what counts as an ‘observation’ is widened. Then, by weaving together Buddhism and Aristotle, the chapter makes the case for the positive value of flourishing in nature and among humans.Less
This chapter compares Western philosophical and scientific foundations with Buddhist philosophies on the topic of flourishing in nature. It argues that flourishing is good by querying the purpose of nature, the existence of God and the good. Defining flourishing in terms of Aristotle’s final cause, and questioning some of the assumptions of the founders of modern science, the chapter presents a common quandary—whether science and faith are reconcilable. Through attempting to steer a Middle way between belief in eternal souls, gods and divine purposes, and the depressing conclusions of nihilists and (some) atheists, it suggests that Buddhism can be seen as scientific, if the definition of what counts as an ‘observation’ is widened. Then, by weaving together Buddhism and Aristotle, the chapter makes the case for the positive value of flourishing in nature and among humans.
