Enlightened Lifestyle provides an answer. pt 2
The Enlightened Lifestyle, as presented in the commentary, provides a nuanced response to many of the critiques often leveled against secular humanism, specifically around issues of morality, epistemology, and the need for meaning and purpose. Below, we'll explore how it addresses these concerns, while acknowledging where it might still face challenges.
Grounding of Universal Morality
One of the key concerns for secular humanism is its struggle to establish a universal moral framework. The Enlightened Lifestyle offers a solution by pointing to virtues and ethical systems that transcend cultural boundaries, as seen in positive psychology’s character strengths and Buddhist paramitas. These universal values, grounded in empirical studies (such as Seligman’s cross-cultural research) and long-standing philosophical traditions, suggest that ethical principles like compassion, wisdom, and kindness can be shared across different human contexts without needing a transcendent authority.
For instance, by integrating Buddhist ethics (paramitas) found in Southeast Asia, China, and Japan, the Enlightened Lifestyle promotes a worldview that views morality not as subjective or culturally bound but as something that can be universally understood through the lens of interconnectedness. This suggests that morality, while emerging from naturalistic roots, can still align with ethical principles common across humanity.
Justification of Human Worth
Another challenge for secular humanism is justifying the inherent worth of human beings without appealing to a divine source. The Enlightened Lifestyle frames human worth through a lens of interconnectedness, asserting that value emerges from the symbiotic relationships between all living beings and the broader universe. This aligns with the Buddhist idea of interbeing, where every entity, from the smallest insect to the largest galaxy, is part of an interdependent system. This interconnectedness imbues life with value, not from a supernatural source but from the inherent nature of existence itself.
Addressing the Is-Ought Problem
The Enlightened Lifestyle navigates the is-ought problem, raised by Hume, by focusing on personal autonomy and the cultivation of wisdom. Rather than seeing the gap between "what is" and "what ought to be" as an insurmountable philosophical barrier, the lifestyle encourages individuals to bridge that gap through reason, personal wisdom, and mindfulness. For instance, using the example of addiction, it explains that reason and wisdom allow individuals to seek healing and transformation even when they are stuck in a harmful state. This perspective emphasizes autonomy and the power of self-directed growth.
Epistemological Concerns: Circular Reasoning and the Limits of Empiricism
The critique of circular reasoning in secular humanism, particularly its reliance on human reason to justify itself, is addressed in the Enlightened Lifestyle through a dual framework of critical inquiry and mind inquiry. This reciprocal loop integrates critical thinking and mindfulness, encouraging practitioners to remain engaged with empirical reality while also developing personal insight and reflection. This breaks the perceived circularity by expanding beyond purely rational or scientific methods to include phenomenological experiences and subjective inquiry.
The Enlightened Lifestyle also acknowledges the limits of empiricism, especially in addressing non-empirical truths, such as meaning, purpose, or even consciousness. By integrating mindfulness and wisdom practices, it offers a methodology for exploring these dimensions, allowing individuals to experience and understand truths that lie beyond observable phenomena.
Moral Relativism and Meaning
Rather than prescribing rigid, unchanging moral rules, the Enlightened Lifestyle allows for an evolving understanding and application of moral principles. This approach, seen in the comparison to the Epicureans, Stoics, and early Buddhist texts, supports the idea that moral truths may not drastically change but that our engagement with and understanding of these truths can deepen over time. This offers a way to avoid the pitfalls of moral relativism by promoting consistent ethical values while allowing for cultural and individual adaptation.
Addressing Meaning and Purpose
On the question of meaning and purpose, which secular humanism often struggles to define without a transcendent source, the Enlightened Lifestyle incorporates perspectives from Buddhist teachings on rebirth and interconnectedness. It emphasizes that meaning is found not in individual existence alone but in the broader web of life. By cultivating mindfulness and engaging in community, individuals can find deep purpose in contributing to the well-being of others and the environment, aligning personal growth with collective good.
Where the Enlightened Lifestyle Still Lacks
Despite its strengths, the Enlightened Lifestyle may still encounter challenges in completely resolving the issues secular humanism faces:
Objectivity of Morality: While it provides a framework for shared ethical values, it does not fully solve the issue of whether objective moral truths can exist independently of human interpretation. The reliance on virtues and empirical observation, while pragmatic, does not establish absolute moral truths.
Metaphysical Grounding: The naturalistic approach, while grounded in experience and interconnectedness, might not satisfy critics who seek a more solid metaphysical foundation for ethics. The Enlightened Lifestyle's avoidance of divine or transcendental claims can be a strength for some but may leave others wanting a firmer ontological basis for morality.
Conclusion
The Enlightened Lifestyle provides thoughtful solutions to many of the philosophical challenges facing secular humanism. By integrating Eastern and Western traditions, combining empirical inquiry with mindfulness, and emphasizing interconnectedness, it offers a holistic framework for ethical living, personal growth, and collective well-being. While it may not resolve every critique, particularly regarding the objectivity of morality or metaphysical grounding, it represents a significant step forward in addressing the limitations of purely secular humanist worldviews.
