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Stephen Kaplan

2 papers in the library · publishing 2007-2009

Papers

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Grasping at ontological straws: overcoming reductionism in the Advaita Vedānta-Neuroscience dialogue.

Journal of the American Academy of Religion. American Academy of Religion 2009 Stephen Kaplan

Contemporary neuropsychology reveals that the parietal lobe contains neurons that are specifically attuned to the act of grasping and this act may be fundamental to the establishment of the phenomenal boundaries between subject and object. Furthermore, alterations to this process, such as the hypoactivation of this region during meditation or the hyperactivation associated with schizophrenia,...

Vidyā and Avidyā: Simultaneous and Coterminous? -- A Holographic Model to Illuminate the Advaita Debate

Philosophy East and West April 1, 2007 Stephen Kaplan

The Advaita Vedānta notion of ātman/Brahman presents serious philosophical challenge to this school—namely, it demands that they explain how all (reality) can be undivided, unchanging, and pure consciousness, yet appear to be everything but nondual, unchanging, and pure consciousness. The Advaita answer is avidyā, ajñāna (ignorance). This answer tells us that Brahman does not really change; it...