Buddhism and Modern Psychology

About this course: The Dalai Lama has said that Buddhism and science are deeply compatible and has encouraged Western scholars to critically examine both the meditative practice and Buddhist ideas about the human mind. A number of scientists and philosophers have taken up this challenge. There have been brain scans of meditators and philosophical examinations of Buddhist doctrines. There have even been discussions of Darwin and the Buddha: Do early Buddhist descriptions of the mind, and of the human condition, make particular sense in light of evolutionary psychology? This course will examine how Buddhism is faring under this scrutiny. Are neuroscientists starting to understand how meditation “works”? Would such an understanding validate meditation—or might physical explanations of meditation undermine the spiritual significance attributed to it? And how are some of the basic Buddhist claims about the human mind holding up? We’ll pay special attention to some highly counterintuitive doctrines: that the self doesn’t exist, and that much of perceived reality is in some sense illusory. Do these claims, radical as they sound, make a certain kind of sense in light of modern psychology? And what are the implications of all this for how we should live our lives? Can meditation make us not just happier, but better people?

Created by:  Princeton University

• Taught by:  Robert Wright, Visiting Lecturer

  Religion Department and the Center for Human Values

Commitment 2-5 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


The Buddhist Diagnosis



5 videos, 4 readings expand

1. Reading: The Basics
2. Reading: Course Overview
3. Reading: About the Instructor
4. Video: Introduction: Religious Buddhism and ‘Secular’ Buddhism
5. Video: Feelings and Illusions
6. Video: The First Two Noble Truths
7. Video: Evolutionary Psychology and the First Two Noble Truths
8. Video: Office Hours 1
9. Reading: Resources for Week 1

WEEK 2


The Buddhist Prescription



5 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: The Eightfold Path
2. Video: Meditation
3. Video: Mindfulness Meditation and the Brain
4. Video: Can Our Feelings Be Trusted?
5. Video: Office Hours 2
6. Reading: Resources for Week 2

WEEK 3


Does Your Self Exist?



4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: The Buddha’s Discourse on the Not-Self
2. Video: What Did The Buddha Mean?
3. Video: Modern Psychology and the Self
4. Video: Office Hours 3
5. Reading: Resources for Week 3
6. Reading: Guidelines for Grading Assignments

Graded: Mid-term Assignment

WEEK 4


A New Model of the Mind



4 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Delusions about Ourselves
2. Video: What Mental Modules Aren’t
3. Video: What Mental Modules Are
4. Video: Office Hours 4
5. Reading: Resources for Week 4

WEEK 5


Mental Modules and Meditation



4 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Choosing ‘Selves’ Through Meditation
2. Video: ‘Self’ Control
3. Video: The Experience of Not-self
4. Video: Office Hours 5
5. Reading: Resources for Week 5

WEEK 6


What is Enlightenment?



8 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Not-Self as Interconnection
2. Video: Essentialism and Emptiness
3. Video: Buddhist and Darwinian Enlightenment
4. Video: A Naturalistic Religion?
5. Video: Office Hours 6
6. Video: Extra Office Hours 1
7. Video: Extra Office Hours 2
8. Video: Extra Office Hours 3
9. Reading: Resources for Week 6

Graded: Final Exam Assignment