Philosophical Questions in Meditation

In this episode of Voices with Vervaeke, philosopher and cognitive scientist Mark Miller joins John Vervaeke and Rick Repetti for a fascinating discussion on the connections between philosophy, science, and contemplative practice. Mark provides insight into his work as a 'synthetic philosopher', integrating diverse fields like neuroscience and Buddhism to create theoretical frameworks for understanding the mind and contemplation. The conversation explores whether there can or should be a 'philosophy of meditation', and how science and philosophy might contribute to human flourishing and contemplative development. Mark shares rich examples of how computational models and cognitive science can elucidate contemplative skills and states, providing nuance to traditional teachings. He emphasizes the importance of balance between insight practices and compassion cultivation on the contemplative path.

Mark Miller, a philosopher and cognitive scientist, holds a senior research fellowship at Monash University's Center for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies in Australia, with affiliations at the University of Toronto and Hokkaido University in Japan. His work, which delves into the interplay between human thought, technology's impact on well-being, and human-computer interaction, is at the forefront of integrating cognitive neuroscience with philosophical inquiry.

Glossary of Terms

Predictive Processing: A cognitive science theory that suggests the brain continuously makes predictions about the environment based on past experiences.

Synthetic Philosophy: An interdisciplinary approach that integrates insights from various fields to develop comprehensive frameworks for understanding complex phenomena.

Contemplative Science: A field of study that investigates the effects of meditation and contemplative practices on the mind and well-being.

John Vervaeke:

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Rick Repetti:

Website: https://www.rickrepetti.com/

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Mark Miller:

The Contemplative Science Podcast: https://www.thecontemplativescientists.com/

Website: https://www.markdmiller.live/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaYjSup-Hp3V9P6MGt2zPuA

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The Vervaeke Foundation - https://vervaekefoundation.org/

Awaken to Meaning - https://awakentomeaning.com/

Books, Articles, and Publications

• Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti 

https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Handbook-Philosophy-Meditation-Repetti/dp/036764746X

• Why I Am Not a Buddhist - Evan Thompson https://www.amazon.com/Why-I-Am-Not-Buddhist/dp/0300264674

Quotes

“Meditation is philosophy. It's not about relaxing, and it's certainly not about just creating weird psychedelic states so that we can blow our minds and talk about it. Meditation is a way of knowing ourselves, knowing our situation, and then flourishing through that special knowing.” - Mark Miller [00:16:42]

"Don't under appreciate the value of love for your training. If you're listening to this, and you're contemplative, and you're tuning in now to help your practice, don't overlook it. It's valuable at the beginning, in the middle, in the end - like even a small amount of loving kindness and kindness practice now is going to make all the difference." - Mark Miller [00:56:00]

Chapters

[00:00:00] Introduction 

[00:06:00] - Mark Miller's Journey in Contemplative Science

[00:14:00] - Meditation's Role in Philosophy and Contemplation

[00:17:00] - Synthetic Philosophy and Contemplative Science

[00:23:00] -  Bridging Science, Philosophy and Contemplative Practice 

[00:30:00]  - Blending Philosophy and Cognitive Science in Contemplative Practice 

[00:47:00] -  Exploring Deep Belief Structures and Skillful Engagement

[00:55:00] - Concluding Thoughts