Taboo of Subjectivity, The

Book Description

In this thought-provoking exploration, B. Alan Wallace challenges the boundaries that have long separated scientific inquiry from the investigation of consciousness itself. Wallace identifies a crucial problem: the philosophical assumptions of scientific materialism have created an artificial barrier preventing rigorous study of our inner subjective experiences.

Drawing from an impressive range of sources spanning centuries and cultures, Wallace weaves together insights from William James and contemporary philosopher Hilary Putnam with the profound contemplative wisdom of Augustine and Buddhist masters like Buddhaghosa, Asanga, and Padmasambhava. This unique synthesis reveals how different traditions have approached the fundamental questions of awareness and consciousness.

The author carefully distinguishes between science as a method of inquiry and the limiting worldview of scientific materialism that has dominated academic thinking. He traces this materialist perspective back through history, examining how the Protestant Reformation and Scientific Revolution shaped our current assumptions about what can and cannot be studied scientifically.

Wallace presents a compelling case for combining both external observation and internal contemplative investigation as valid approaches to understanding consciousness. His framework offers a path forward that honors both rigorous scientific methodology and the rich tradition of introspective inquiry found in contemplative practices.

For anyone seeking to understand how science and spirituality might inform each other, this work provides essential insights into bridging these seemingly separate domains of human knowledge.