The potential of contemplative science
July 20, 2017 DOI: 10.4324/9781315461977-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes contemplative science as a new discipline that investigates changes in the mind's metacognitive self-regulatory capacity (MSRC) and shifts in modes of existential awareness (MEA) resulting from meditation training, and argues that contemplative training has broad potential to support human well-being, particularly meaning and purpose in life. |
Abstract
The last chapter introduces a framework of contemplative science as a new discipline investigating changes in the metacognitive self-regulatory capacity (MSRC) of the mind and shifts in modes of existential awareness (MEA) resulting from meditation training. Building on this framework, it further outlines the disciplines of contemplative psychology, contemplative psychotherapy, contemplative neuroscience and developmental contemplative science. Implications of contemplative science for healthcare and the broader societal context are also discussed. The chapter concludes with an emphasis on the much wider potential of contemplative training in contributing to human well-being, particularly with regard to our sense of meaning and purpose in life.