Why I Am Not a Buddhist

An understanding of a contemplative practice which only considered an isolated, individual practitioner and specific technique would be insufficient to understanding the operation and effects of the practice and would not even be a full representation of the practice itself.

“That is, an understanding of a contemplative practice which only considered an isolated, individual practitioner and specific technique would, first, be insufficient to understanding the operation and effects of the practice and, second, would not even be a full representation of the practice itself (Thompson 2020).”

Scientific scholarly and religious traditions may have quite different views of the ethics of knowledge.

“In particular, (scientific) scholarly and religious traditions may have quite different views of the ethics of knowledge (Thompson 2020, 184).”

This position is insufficient, as it denies the historical and socio-cultural location of scientific knowledge-making practices.

“However, as Thompson (2020) argues, this position is insufficient, as it denies the historical and socio-cultural location of scientific knowledgemaking practices.”

It also denies the fact that, while providing an exceptional avenue to mapping factual elements of reality, scientific disciplines generally fail to account for questions about what is valuable in human life.

“It also denies the fact that, while providing an exceptional avenue to mapping factual elements of reality, scientific disciplines generally fail to account for questions about what is valuable in human life.”

Following Appiah, Thompson (2020) presents the notion of cosmopolitanism, and the associated practice of conversation as such an alternative model.

“Following Appiah, Thompson (2020) presents the notion of cosmopolitanism, and the associated practice of conversation as such an alternative model.”

A cosmopolitan is not a citizen of nowhere but an interested guest or visitor.

“Quoting Phillip J. Ivanhoe, Thompson (2020) points out that 'a cosmopolitan is not a citizen of nowhere but an interested guest or visitor' (188).”

This form of knowledge is 'a collective mode of knowing - with its own ethics of mutual respect and getting to know one another'.

“This form of knowledge is 'a collective mode of knowing -with its own ethics of mutual respect and getting to know one another' (185).”

Conversation across different traditions 'destabilizes one's background assumptions and commitments'.

“Conversation across different traditions 'destabilizes one's background assumptions and commitments' (180).”