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{ "item_title" : "Two Views of Mind", "item_author" : [" Christopher Decharms "], "item_description" : "A scientist compares and contrasts the Buddhist theory of perception and Western neuroscience. For Buddhism, mind is awareness. For science, mind is a mechanism in action, a mindless machine understood by analyzing the function of its processes and parts. Is there anything that these two apparently contradictory methods can teach each other? In this ground-breaking work, Christopher deCharms lays out the Buddhist theory of perception side-by-side with the most recent discoveries of Western neuroscience on the brain activity of human perception, opening the door to a new era of fertile dialogue between two great wisdom traditions. Written in language directed to non-specialists, the book focuses on the differences between the two traditions in methodology, assumptions, and purpose. But in treating each with the respect it deserves, he uncovers fields of common interest where insights may be complementary and not contradictory. This leads to the big questions. Science has begun to map the most elemental brain processes of perception. But in the end, it must come to grips with the big issue: What is the mind? Here, the Buddhist methodology of introspection may be of critical value. On the other hand, the scientific demonstration of direct causal relationships between brain states and mental activity must be accounted for by the Buddhist theoretical model.", "item_img_path" : "https://covers4.booksamillion.com/covers/bam/1/55/939/081/1559390816_b.jpg", "price_data" : { "retail_price" : "24.95", "online_price" : "24.95", "our_price" : "24.95", "club_price" : "24.95", "savings_pct" : "0", "savings_amt" : "0.00", "club_savings_pct" : "0", "club_savings_amt" : "0.00", "discount_pct" : "10", "store_price" : "" } }
Two Views of Mind|Christopher Decharms

Two Views of Mind : Abhidharma and Brain Science

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Overview

A scientist compares and contrasts the Buddhist theory of perception and Western neuroscience. For Buddhism, mind is awareness. For science, mind is a mechanism in action, a mindless machine understood by analyzing the function of its processes and parts. Is there anything that these two apparently contradictory methods can teach each other? In this ground-breaking work, Christopher deCharms lays out the Buddhist theory of perception side-by-side with the most recent discoveries of Western neuroscience on the brain activity of human perception, opening the door to a new era of fertile dialogue between two great wisdom traditions. Written in language directed to non-specialists, the book focuses on the differences between the two traditions in methodology, assumptions, and purpose. But in treating each with the respect it deserves, he uncovers fields of common interest where insights may be complementary and not contradictory. This leads to the big questions. Science has begun to map the most elemental brain processes of perception. But in the end, it must come to grips with the big issue: What is the mind? Here, the Buddhist methodology of introspection may be of critical value. On the other hand, the scientific demonstration of direct causal relationships between brain states and mental activity must be accounted for by the Buddhist theoretical model.

Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781559390811
  • ISBN-10: 1559390816
  • Publisher: Shambhala
  • Publish Date: January 1997
  • Dimensions: 9.13 x 6.14 x 0.73 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 0.88 pounds
  • Page Count: 243

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