Christian Coseru, Professor of Philosophy at the College of Charleston, discusses perceiving reality, debates on consciousness, and the social role of cognition. The podcast explores panpsychism in Buddhism, human flourishing definitions, and the relationship between Buddhist practices and indoctrination.
Perception is an active and skilled process, with Buddhist philosophy offering insights into perception as a complex sensory-motor engagement with the environment.
Consciousness is a debated topic, with perspectives from phenomenology and the Buddhist tradition adding complexity to understanding its experiential nature.
The question of consciousness remains open, with differing perspectives contributing valuable insights to our understanding of its relationship with self-consciousness and its role in shaping our perception of reality.
Deep dives
Perception and its relation to reality
Perception and its relation to reality is an ongoing topic of debate in philosophy and cognitive science. While some argue that perception is not a reliable instrument of knowledge, others maintain that perception is an active and skilled process. Buddhist philosophy, with its emphasis on careful observation and analysis of mental contents, offers insights into perception as an active engagement with the environment. The idea is that perception is not a passive registering of information, but rather a complex sensory-motor process that affords different possibilities based on an individual's skills and expertise. Buddhist meditative practices also play a role in sharpening perception and developing a deeper understanding of human dispositions. Overall, the debate on perception and reality continues, with different approaches offering valuable perspectives on the nature of conscious experience.
The phenomenological approach to consciousness
Consciousness is a highly debated topic, with various theories attempting to explain its nature. One approach, influenced by phenomenology, views consciousness as fundamentally experiential. It emphasizes the idea that there is something it is like to have a certain experience. This perspective aligns with the Buddhist tradition, which acknowledges the reality of consciousness as a part of its metaphysics. Buddhist philosophers grapple with the question of whether self-consciousness is inherent to consciousness or a construct. Some argue that consciousness is reflexive, making us simultaneously aware of the world and ourselves as the individuals experiencing it. Others challenge the notion of self-consciousness, considering it a delusory construct. The exploration of consciousness from both Western and Buddhist philosophical perspectives adds richness and complexity to the ongoing discourse.
Debating consciousness and the limits of knowledge
The question of consciousness remains open, with no universally agreed-upon theory. Some philosophers and scientists argue that consciousness is an illusion, while others emphasize its experiential nature. The Buddhist tradition, despite rejecting the existence of a permanent self, acknowledges the reality of consciousness as an irreducible element of human experience. The debate within Buddhism revolves around the relationship between consciousness and self-consciousness, questioning whether self-awareness is fundamental or a construct that can be eliminated. Philosophical discussions on consciousness often delve into the limits of knowledge and the challenges of defining an elusive and complex phenomenon. As research and inquiry continue, differing perspectives contribute valuable insights to our understanding of consciousness and its role in shaping our perception of reality.
Direct Perception and Phenomenological Tradition
The podcast explores the question of how we know that our access to the world is not mediated by representation. It discusses the phenomenological tradition's argument that perception puts us in direct touch with the things themselves, without a representational filter. An example is given to illustrate this, where the direct encounter with an object, such as the Eiffel Tower, provides a rich and unique experience that cannot be replicated through secondary knowledge.
Buddhism and Perception
The podcast delves into Buddhist theories of knowledge and perception. It highlights the Buddhist belief in the possibility of achieving clear ways of perceiving and analyzing phenomena, free from predispositions and beliefs. While there is no consensus within Buddhism on the nature of perception, there are concepts such as warehouse consciousness and Buddha mind that align with aspects of panpsychism. The conversation also touches on the challenges of reconciling different metaphysical positions and the potential limitations of doctrinal adherence in hindering open-ended exploration.
What does it mean to perceive and just how capable are we of perceiving reality? This is a core question in the work of Christian Coseru, who is today’s guest. He is the Lightsey Humanities chair and Professor of Philosophy at the College of Charleston. Christian works in the fields of philosophy of mind, phenomenology, and cross-cultural philosophy, especially Indian and Buddhist philosophy in dialogue with Western philosophy and cognitive science.
Christian spent four and a half years in India in the mid 1990s pursuing studies in Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy. While in India, he was affiliated with several research institutes, including the Maha Body Society, the Asiatic Society of Calcutta and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies.
We discuss;
Perceiving Reality and where current ongoing debates are on this immense topic.
How confident we can be that phenomenological experience of reality is real and accurate.
Where current theories are on the question of consciousness.
The social role of cognition and the topic of mediation.
What he makes of panpsychism andits return and relationship with physicalism.
How such theories are represented in Buddhism.
Working definitions of human flourishing and whether they are at all indebted to Buddhism.
