Reconsidering Western Dualism via the Middle Way: Constraints and Possibilities in Approaching Reality
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Abstract
This article examines the concept of dualism in Western philosophy through the lens of the Middle Way (Majjhima Patipada) in Theravāda Buddhism, in order to analyze how these two perspectives align or conflict on a philosophical level and in their ways of perceiving reality. Western dualism, rooted in Greek philosophy, has developed into a worldview that divides reality into opposing pairs such as mind vs. body or good vs. evil. This outlook has significantly influenced religion, science, and political ideologies. In contrast, Buddhism emphasizes the Middle Way, a principle that seeks to avoid clinging to extremes in order to achieve balanced understanding and mental development toward enlightenment. This article analyzes how attachment to dualistic thinking can lead to cognitive limitations and social conflict, while the Middle Way offers a more dynamic alternative by encouraging consideration of reality within its context and conditions. It proposes that understanding dualism through the framework of the Middle Way can lead to a more flexible mode of thinking—one that aligns more closely with the ever-changing nature of the world.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
บทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์เป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสาร มจร ปรัชญาปริทรรศน์
ข้อความในบทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ในวารสาร ถือเป็นความรับผิดชอบของผู้เขียนบทความ และข้อคิดเห็นนั้นไม่ถือว่าเป็นทัศนะและความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการวารสาร มจร ปรัชญาปริทรรศน์
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