New Books in Philosophy

Tyler Dalton McNabb and Erik Baldwin, "Classical Theism and Buddhism: Connecting Metaphysical and Ethical Systems" (Bloomsbury, 2023)

Dec 20, 2023

01:09:41

Episode guests

Tyler Dalton McNabb

Erik Baldwin

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Quick takeaways

Classical theism and Buddhism can be philosophically compatible due to the distinction of God as a unique being.

Buddhist and theistic ethics and soteriology can be synthesized, fostering compatibility between the two religious traditions.

Deep dives

Main Ideas and Key Points

In this podcast episode, the authors discuss the compatibility between classical theism and Buddhism. They argue that classical theism and certain interpretations of Buddhism can be philosophically compatible. The authors explore the importance of defending this claim and highlight their motivations for writing this book. They delve into the metaphysical doctrines of classical theism and Buddhism and explain how they can be reconciled. The authors also address objections to classical theism, such as the argument from temporal knowledge, and provide counterarguments to these objections. Furthermore, they examine the ethics of Buddhism and classical theism and highlight the similarities between their ethical systems. The authors also discuss the soteriology of both traditions and argue for a synthesis between Buddhist and Christian religious experiences. They address objections to religious pluralism, focusing on the compatibility of Christian miracles and Buddhist experiences. The authors present their views on religious pluralism, emphasizing the compatibility between classical theism and Buddhism, as well as the potential for a broader synthesis of different religious traditions.

Introduction

4min

Exploring the Relationship Between Classical Theism and Buddhism

18min

Connecting individual slices and addressing objections to classical theism

3min

Objections to Changeless God Interacting with a Changing World

14min

Connections between Buddhist Ethics and Theistic Ethics

17min

Supernatural Occurrences and Shunyata Experience in Christianity and Buddhism

5min

Tapping into the Emptiness: Exploring the Connection Between Buddhism and Classical Theism

6min

In addition to denying the existence of a substantial, enduring self, Buddhists are usually understood to deny the existence of a God or gods. However, in Classical Theism and Buddhism: Connecting Metaphysical and Ethical Systems (Bloomsbury, 2022), Tyler Dalton McNabb and Erik Baldwin argue that there is conceptual space to affirm both basic Buddhist metaphysical claims and Classical Theism without contradiction. Their book argues that three fundamental commitments are generally agreed upon by Buddhists: all things are interdependent, impermanent, and empty of "own-being" (svabhāva). However, since Classical Theists like Aquinas deny that God—who is eternal, immutable, impassible, and metaphysically simple—is a thing among other things, accepting the existence of such a God poses no problem for a Buddhist. The book unpacks this thesis, also taking up historical Buddhist and contemporary philosophical objections to a divine being, arguing for a synthesis of Buddhist and theistic ethics and soteriology, and closing with a discussion of the problem of religious pluralism for Christians and Buddhists.

Malcolm Keating is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yale-NUS College. His research focuses on Sanskrit works of philosophy in Indian traditions, in the areas of language and epistemology. He is the author of Language, Meaning, and Use in Indian Philosophy (Bloomsbury Press, 2019) and host of the podcast Sutras & Stuff.

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