L'anthropologie bouddhiste face à la philosophie moderne et à la neurophysiologie contemporaine

The author reminds us the outlines of Buddhist doctrine. Then he examines how a Buddhist reader could react to some examples of Modern Philosophy (Descartes) and also Analytical Philosophy (Wittgenstein). Besides he points out the new prospects of contemporary neurophysiology, such as they are depicted in Prof. Changeux' s recent book, Neuronal Man (New York, Pantheon Books, 1985). This provides us with a different idea of man. What a Buddhist monk will say, will he raise some objection of principle or not? Given that we usually think of religion and spiritualism as closely linked to each other, the answer to this question is both unexpected and enlightening.Buddhist anthropology vis-à-vis modern philosophy and contemporary neurophysiology The author reminds us the outlines of Buddhist doctrine. Then he examines how a Buddhist reader could react to some examples of Modern Philosophy (Descartes) and also Analytical Philosophy (Wittgenstein). Besides he points out the new prospects of contemporary neurophysiology, such as they are depicted in Prof. Changeux's recent book, "Neuronal Man" (New York, Pantheon Books, 1985). This provides us with a different idea of man. What a Buddhist monk will say, will he raise some objection of principle or not ? Given that we usually think of religion and spiritualism as closely linked to each other, the answer to this question is both unexpected and enlightening.Après avoir rappelé l'essentiel de la doctrine bouddhique, l'auteur examine les réactions d'un lecteur bouddhiste face à quelques échantillons significatifs de la philosophie moderne (Descartes) ou de la philosophie analytique (Wittgenstein). Il évoque, ensuite, les perspectives ouvertes par la neurophysiologie contemporaine, telles qu'on les trouve exposées dans le récent livre du PT Changeux, "L'Homme neuronal". Elles peuvent changer notre idée de l'homme. Que dirait un moine bouddhiste, aurait-il, ou non, des objections de principe ? Pour nous qui sommes accoutumés à associer religion et spiritualisme, la réponse est aussi instructive qu'inattendue.Bugault Guy. L'anthropologie bouddhiste face à la philosophie moderne et à la neurophysiologie contemporaine. In: Revue de l'histoire des religions, tome 203, n°4, 1986. pp. 381-393