The Good Mind: Buddhist Philosophy for Psychologists

Undergraduate

Buddhist practices of attention (meditation) have influenced contemporary therapeutic interventions in clinical psychology, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Even though the clinical evidence for the effectiveness of these therapies is strong, the mechanisms underlying therapeutic success remain largely unknown. Buddhist philosophical models of mental architecture and action relevant to meditation are not sufficiently drawn on in empirical work; at the same time, many of the explanatory models developed by Buddhist philosophy remain empirically untested. This course fills the gap by providing students with the resources to engage Buddhist philosophy and experimental psychology in dialogue. Students develop expertise in the epistemic paradigms of analysis and explanation involved in both traditions, with an emphasis on the prospects for first-personal observation in both theoretical paradigms. Given the multidisciplinary nature of this course and its topical focus on well-being, we imagine this class suitable for a broad range of students from Psychology, Cognitive Science, Humanities, Religious Studies, and Philosophy, among other disciplines. HU , SO Th 9:25am-11:20am