ISSN 1076-9005
Volume 25, 2018
Mindfulness and the Psychology of Ethical Dogmatism
Josef Mattes
University of Vienna
Motivated by recent controversies concerning the relationship
between modern mindfulness-based interventions and Buddhism, this article
discusses the relationship between mindfulness and dogmatism in general, and
dogmatism in ethics in particular. The point of view taken is primarily that of
the psychology of judgment and decision making: Various cognitive illusions
affect the feelings of righteousness and certainty that tend to accompany
ethical and moral judgments. I argue that even though there is some evidence
that mindfulness practice improves judgment and decision making, this
improvement is rarely as strong as is implied in various contributions to the
above-mentioned controversies. In addition, I reflect on claims that “the
original teachings of the Buddha” justify the moral stances taken. I argue that
these stances likely arise, at least in part, due to the cultural transmission
of cognitive dissonance of early Christianity rather than being inherent in the
Buddha’s teachings.
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