Parallels between Mindfulness and First-person Research into Consciousness
Olga Markič, Urban Kordeš
Asian Studies August 10, 2016 DOI: 10.4312/as.2016.4.2.153-168 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Parallels Consciousness Epistemology Contemplation Fallacy Object grammar Subject documents Cognition Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key points | Argues that mindfulness and first-person scientific approaches to consciousness research share epistemological and methodological problems, and that critical reflection on their distinct conceptual frameworks can enable mutual enrichment. |
Abstract
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.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Becoming conscious: the science of mindfulness Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 1, 2013
- Studying the Well-Trained Mind Science October 2, 2003
- Why Should We Study Experience More Systematically: Neurophenomenology and Modern Cognitive Science Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems October 31, 2013
- Buddhism and Cognitive (Neuro)Science: An Uneasy Liaison? Asian Studies January 18, 2023
- How can we construct a science of consciousness? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 2013
and 2 more in the library