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In the book I investigate distinctions between independent individuality and interactive relationality in physical phenomena. This common topic for modern physics and philosophy of science is explored using current research in those disciplines. Buddhism also focuses on relationships, proposing that independent things do not exist. In the context of physical reality, I take this Buddhist view as a hypothesis and examine it critically. We evaluate it's arguments and find them generally to be problematic when evaluated against modern standards for logic and physics. However, its fundamental principle-emptiness, or shunyata is still test-worthy.
Contrary to many books on Buddhism and science, this one takes a positive view of science. The book begins by defining 'science'. While we discuss, explain and justify many views of science, and present the standard elements of science, physics and physics theories, I argue extensively for one perspective: pluralism in a synthesis of my own design: physics pluralism.
I show Buddhist 'emptiness' (shunyata) to be quite consistent physical pluralism. When we test shunyata with physics within that knowledge framework uncovers the relevance, importance, and some truth in the Buddhist relationality ideas.
This Volume 1: Non-Technical Summary provides a brief introductory treatment of the topic designed for the general audience. You may read Volume 1 independently from Volume 2: Scholarly Edition. Both volumes provide background and develop concepts from a non-technical and non-specialized starting point. However, this Volume 1 stops there, while in Volume 2 we examine extensive treatments of controversies, complexities and technical details, plus elaborate explanations and examples. Volume 2 contains hundreds of citations and footnotes, while Volume 1 has no footnotes and few citations, although both have complete bibliographies.
The series Buddhism and Modern Science will include books that examine links between
Buddhism and the life and social sciences, e.g. neuroscience, economics, and geopolitics.
For four decades, Robert Alan Paul has studied physics, had a career as a physicist, and both studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics, and separate master's degrees in philosophy; philosophy of science & mathematics; and physics (abd). He holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in four disciplines: philosophy of science, Western analytic metaphysics, Buddhist philosophy, and physics. His Ph.D. dissertation was the foundation for this book.
Buddhism and Modern Physics : From Individuals to Relations, Volume 2 : Scholarly Edition, Robert Alan Paul, Paperback, 504 pp, $25.00
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