Will the marriage between Pragmatism and Buddhism last?

5 November 2009
16:00 – 17:30 hrs
Leiden, the Netherlands

Buddhist Studies Lecture by Prof. Richard Hayes, (visiting Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies, Leiden University/IIAS)

Venue: IIAS, Rapenburg 59 (room 004), 2311 GJ Leiden

Almost every American is influenced by the philosophical movement called Pragmatism. Even those who have never studied the works or even learned the names of Charles S. Peirce, William James, John Dewey, Willard Van Orman Quine or Susan Haack have been influenced by their thinking and have either endorsed it or reacted against it. This is as true of those Americans who have become Buddhists as it is of the population in general. This paper explores to what extent a Pragmatist approach Buddhism might be workable, and whether the result would be recognizable to traditional Buddhists as still being a form of Buddhism.

If you have any questions with regard to the Buddhist Studies Lectures, please do not hesitate to contact IIAS at iias@iias.nl or T +31-71 527 2227.

The Buddhist Studies Lectures are organised by: IIAS and Prof. Jonathan Silk (Prof. in the Study of Buddhism, Leiden University).