I have the sneaking suspicion that Westerners who want to share their love of science with Tibetan monks (this is happening at Emory University) have found a clever way to attack Buddhism without overtly attacking its principles. By this I mean these Westerners are selling Scientism to Tibetan monks which is really selling a species of materialism that is inimical to the overall teachings of the Buddha. First, let’s look at the definition of “Scientism” which comes from the Oxford English Dictionary.
“A term applied (freq. in a derogatory manner) to a belief in the omnipotence of scientific knowledge and techniques; also to the view that the methods of study appropriate to physical science can replace those used in other fields such as philosophy and, esp., human behaviour and the social sciences.”
What strikes me about this definition is the expression “physical science” which discloses a particular kind of science which is selling materialism. In is not science, per se, which the O.E.D. defines this way:
“The state or fact of knowing; knowledge or cognizance of something specified or implied; also, with wider reference, knowledge (more or less extensive) as a personal attribute.”
The object of any physical science must exist materially in order to be known. This is to say, a physical science’s object must have location and shape in order for it to be known. This is different than living systems, or the same, having life, which falls into the spiritual.
From the canon, we learn that the Buddha shows no positive interest in what exists materially since it is finite and ultimately, empty and illusory. What concerns the Buddha is the substance or essential nature of life, itself, which is dynamic and without location (it has other names in Buddhism such as One Mind, Buddha-nature, Suchness, etc.). In addition, he is concerned with those who have life, that is, sattvas, who wrongly cling to material structures in the belief that such can be a refuge from suffering.
One would be accurate to say that the Buddha, if he were alive today, would not be a fan of Scientism, which indirectly champions materialism. Teaching science in the form of Scientism to Tibetan monks is the thin end of the materialist wedge. Again, I stress the Buddha did not teach any form of materialism. Noteworthy, the Buddha declares in the Lankavatara Sutra:
“Analysed down to atoms, there is indeed no form to be discriminated as such; what can be established is the [truth of] Mind-only, which is not believed by those who cherish erroneous views” (trans. D.T. Suzuki).
If this is unsatisfying to the modern ear then this quote from Max Planck, the great pioneer of quantum physics, might help.
“There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter (Dieser Geist ist der Urgrund aller Materie).”
Koji, Come on. "You cannot be serious," The "Cold Confusion" results of Pons and Fleischmann were not reproducable. Otherwise there would be power stations using the process by now. End of story!
Posted by: Bob Morris | December 07, 2011 at 09:50 PM
By lifting the veil on so many mysteries of nature science has effectively destroyed much of the power once held over people by the Church, which has been reduced to routinely manufacturing hoky "miracles." Can Buddhism avoid the same fate? I saw some neuro-scientists on a Charlie Rose repeat last night who seem to be fencing in some previously free range regarding the functioning of the biological mind. But I think the mystery of the intrinsically self-aware universe is safe for now. http://www.nature.com/news/an-eye-opening-fossil-1.9586
Posted by: Bob Morris | December 07, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Science deals more in probabilities than "facts" and is more concerned with how things work than it is with ultimate meaning
Posted by: Bob Morris | December 06, 2011 at 02:10 PM
Bob Morris, the physical sciences can be their own worst enemy. This was evinced in the flap about "cold fusion" in which Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann, both electrochemists, were unfairly attacked. A good book to read on the subject of science gone wrong is Science Was Wrong by Stanton T. Friedman and Kathleen Marden.
Posted by: Kojizen | December 06, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Science is an efficient process for reducing mysteries and superstitions:
Religious leaders in England used to teach that ammonites (Cretacaeous cephalopods) were fossils of coiled snakes which had somehow lost their heads. They were a little uncomfortable with this explanation and offered a reward for an example with head intact. Darwin applied the scientific method and cleared that up along with a lot of other fossil mysteries.
Previous religious leaders taught that the earth was the center about which all else revolved. Galileo and others proved otherwise. The Catholic Church eventually got the idea that fighting the scientists was going to be a losing proposition so they hired a few. Buddhism might do well to follow suit. (Actually, Buddhism gets along with science better than other "religions.")
Science has evolved into an essential component of human culture, almost as fundamental as language itself.
Posted by: Bob Morris | December 06, 2011 at 12:05 PM