Buddhism and Modern Psychology
Enroll for Free Starts Feb 28
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About this Course
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The Dalai Lama has said that Buddhism and science are deeply compatible and has encouraged Western scholars to critically examine both the meditative practice and Buddhist ideas about the human mind. A number of scientists and philosophers have taken up this challenge. There have been brain scans of meditators and philosophical examinations of Buddhist doctrines. There have even been discussions of Darwin and the Buddha: Do early Buddhist descriptions of the mind, and of the human condition, make particular sense in light of evolutionary psychology?
This course will examine how Buddhism is faring under this scrutiny. Are neuroscientists starting to understand how meditation “works”? Would such an understanding validate meditation—or might physical explanations of meditation undermine the spiritual significance attributed to it? And how are some of the basic Buddhist claims about the human mind holding up? We’ll pay special attention to some highly counterintuitive doctrines: that the self doesn’t exist, and that much of perceived reality is in some sense illusory. Do these claims, radical as they sound, make a certain kind of sense in light of modern psychology? And what are the implications of all this for how we should live our lives? Can meditation make us not just happier, but better people? All the features of this course are available for free. It does not offer a certificate upon completion.
SKILLS YOU WILL GAIN
PhilosophyPsychologyMindfulnessMeditation
Learner Career Outcomes
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Approx. 16 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish, Hungarian
Instructor
Instructor rating
4.8/5 (722 Ratings)
Robert WrightVisiting Lecturer
Religion Department and the Center for Human Values
516,935 Learners
1 CourseOffered by
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.
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1 COURSE
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Content Rating98%(45,572 ratings)
WEEK1
2 hours to complete
The Buddhist Diagnosis
5 videos (Total 87 min), 5 readingsSEE LESS
5 videos
Introduction: Religious Buddhism and ‘Secular’ Buddhism11m
Feelings and Illusions12m
The First Two Noble Truths15m
Evolutionary Psychology and the First Two Noble Truths21m
Office Hours 126m
5 readings
The Basics10m
Course Overview10m
About the Instructor10m
Contact us10m
Resources for Week 110m
WEEK2
2 hours to complete
The Buddhist Prescription
5 videos (Total 84 min), 1 readingSEE LESS
5 videos
The Eightfold Path13m
Meditation15m
Mindfulness Meditation and the Brain16m
Can Our Feelings Be Trusted?15m
Office Hours 222m
1 reading
Resources for Week 210m
WEEK3
3 hours to complete
Does Your Self Exist?
4 videos (Total 91 min), 2 readings, 1 quizSEE LESS
4 videos
The Buddha’s Discourse on the Not-Self16m
What Did The Buddha Mean?20m
Modern Psychology and the Self22m
Office Hours 330m
2 readings
Resources for Week 310m
Guidelines for Grading Assignments10m
WEEK4
2 hours to complete
A New Model of the Mind
4 videos (Total 94 min), 1 readingSEE LESS
4 videos
Delusions about Ourselves21m
What Mental Modules Aren’t8m
What Mental Modules Are30m
Office Hours 433m
1 reading
Resources for Week 410m
WEEK5
2 hours to complete
Mental Modules and Meditation
4 videos (Total 101 min), 1 readingSEE LESS
4 videos
Choosing ‘Selves’ Through Meditation18m
‘Self’ Control27m
The Experience of Not-self20m
Office Hours 534m
1 reading
Resources for Week 510m
WEEK6
5 hours to complete
What is Enlightenment?
8 videos (Total 254 min), 1 reading, 1 quizSEE LESS
8 videos
Not-Self as Interconnection23m
Essentialism and Emptiness28m
Buddhist and Darwinian Enlightenment31m
A Naturalistic Religion?14m
Office Hours 634m
Extra Office Hours 142m
Extra Office Hours 236m
Extra Office Hours 341m
1 reading
Resources for Week 610m
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Reviews
4.8
1755 reviews
5 stars
83.68%
4 stars
13.02%
3 stars
1.94%
2 stars
0.55%
1 star
0.78%
TOP REVIEWS FROM BUDDHISM AND MODERN PSYCHOLOGY
by VCNov 15, 2015
I have been practicing meditation for two years already.In so far I have attended all Deepak Chopra meditation experiences which I found very helpful but not as helpful this course provided me so far.
by CVMar 2, 2016
Engaging content and excellent pace. While the level is introductory (I'd have liked a bit more depth), I would expect this from a lower-division/breadth course—and even more so from a MOOC like this.
by LWOct 25, 2020
I thought this was a great introduction to both modern Buddhist thought and evolutionary psychology. Professor Wright is an excellent lecturer, and his office hours are informative as well as amusing.
by RSep 29, 2020
This is a great effort which should be appreciated. Just because at a time like this, some are curious to know about the Buddhism, & with the psychological background, which adds more value for this.View all reviews
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Starts Feb 28
516,935 already enrolled
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