Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness
The article highlights some of the parallels encountered in the areas of mindfulness and first-person scientific approaches to research into consciousness. It thus considers the possibilities of using mindfulness as a scientific method in the area of cognitive science. We are well aware that both fi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2016-08-01
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| Series: | Asian Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/6365 |
| _version_ | 1797949941288534016 |
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| author | Olga MARKIČ Urban KORDEŠ |
| author_facet | Olga MARKIČ Urban KORDEŠ |
| author_sort | Olga MARKIČ |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The article highlights some of the parallels encountered in the areas of mindfulness and first-person scientific approaches to research into consciousness. It thus considers the possibilities of using mindfulness as a scientific method in the area of cognitive science. We are well aware that both first-person research approaches in cognitive science and mindfulness as a type of Buddhist practice are intertwined with certain conceptual frameworks. This calls for a careful consideration of their individual characteristics, which may gain completely different meanings outside of their primary contexts. Since the concept of mindfulness has been a part of Western thinking for some time now, especially in the area of therapy, we believe it is necessary for a critical reflection on the possibilities of both of these areas to inspire each other. We touch upon some of the important epistemological and methodological questions, and point out some of the problems common to both empirical first-person research and Buddhist methods of contemplation of experience. More specifically, this work examines the problem of limited scope of insight, the subject-object split and excavation fallacy, the problem of researching everyday experience, and the issue of horizon. We also consider the question of research intention in both science and Buddhism. The conclusion gives some suggestions as to how these two areas might mutually benefit one another. We also point out the ethical aspects that Buddhism might contribute to scientific research, and the open-endedness that science could contribute to Buddhism and other spiritual practices.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:07:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-306e91b9bf854e1a87f437387aa86dc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2232-5131 2350-4226 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:07:26Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-306e91b9bf854e1a87f437387aa86dc62023-01-18T09:01:40ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Asian Studies2232-51312350-42262016-08-014210.4312/as.2016.4.2.153-168Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into ConsciousnessOlga MARKIČ0Urban KORDEŠ1Faculty of Arts, University of LjubljanaFaculty of Education, University of LjubljanaThe article highlights some of the parallels encountered in the areas of mindfulness and first-person scientific approaches to research into consciousness. It thus considers the possibilities of using mindfulness as a scientific method in the area of cognitive science. We are well aware that both first-person research approaches in cognitive science and mindfulness as a type of Buddhist practice are intertwined with certain conceptual frameworks. This calls for a careful consideration of their individual characteristics, which may gain completely different meanings outside of their primary contexts. Since the concept of mindfulness has been a part of Western thinking for some time now, especially in the area of therapy, we believe it is necessary for a critical reflection on the possibilities of both of these areas to inspire each other. We touch upon some of the important epistemological and methodological questions, and point out some of the problems common to both empirical first-person research and Buddhist methods of contemplation of experience. More specifically, this work examines the problem of limited scope of insight, the subject-object split and excavation fallacy, the problem of researching everyday experience, and the issue of horizon. We also consider the question of research intention in both science and Buddhism. The conclusion gives some suggestions as to how these two areas might mutually benefit one another. We also point out the ethical aspects that Buddhism might contribute to scientific research, and the open-endedness that science could contribute to Buddhism and other spiritual practices. https://journals.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/6365mindfulnessphenomenologyfirst-person researchethicscognitive science |
| spellingShingle | Olga MARKIČ Urban KORDEŠ Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness Asian Studies mindfulness phenomenology first-person research ethics cognitive science |
| title | Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness |
| title_full | Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness |
| title_fullStr | Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness |
| title_short | Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness |
| title_sort | parallels between mindfulness and first person research into consciousness |
| topic | mindfulness phenomenology first-person research ethics cognitive science |
| url | https://journals.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/6365 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olgamarkic parallelsbetweenmindfulnessandfirstpersonresearchintoconsciousness AT urbankordes parallelsbetweenmindfulnessandfirstpersonresearchintoconsciousness |