[Buddha-l] Re. scholarship and philosophy

[Franz Metcalf]

Dear Robert,

I believe I understand what you mean by "objectivity." I don't think  
anyone ever achieves it, but I agree that Buddhist-inspired awareness  
of conditions (inner and outer) is a practice that would lead toward  
it. This is why we agree that self-reflective work should be  
encouraged by teachers of religious studies, Buddhist studies in  
particular.

I think the possibility of doing such practically or personally  
engaged work at the highest level of Buddhist studies scholarship must  
be greater in the States than in England. I have no idea what it's  
like on the Continent or in Asia or anywhere else. But, yes, I am  
saying that in Buddhist studies programs in the States one can do more  
than just make comparisons with Western philosophy and psychology. As  
a doctoral student, one would have to be very careful about making  
normative statements, though. Such statements might, for instance, not  
belong in a scholarly paper or a dissertation. But I think many  
professors would allow students to pursue this kind of work, as long  
as they were also able to maintain an awareness of it and keep it  
separate from other scholarly work, if necessary. Sounds to me that  
the trouble you have had may be more a result of narrowness in the  
field of philosophy than that of Buddhist studies. Departments and  
journals can be absurdly narrow in who and what they will accept.

Sigh,

Franz