logo
episode-header-image
May 2018
19m 56s

Robert Wright on Why Buddhism is True

EDMONDS AND WARBURTON
About this episode

Robert Wright believes that there are a number of key tenets of Buddhism which are both compatible with present day evolutionary theory, and accurate about our relationship with the world and with our own minds. In this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast he discusses Buddhism, reality, and the mind, with interviewer Nigel Warburton. 


We are very grateful for support for this episode from the Marc Sanders Foundation

We are also grateful for the continuing support we receive from donations on Patreon and Paypal.

Up next
Oct 19
Daisy Dixon on Depraved Art
Can a work of art be immoral? What does that mean? Daisy Dixon, author of Depraved: The Story of Dangerous Art discusses this question with Nigel Warburton in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. 
23m 57s
Oct 11
Heather Widdows on the Beauty Ideal
Which physical characteristics does a woman have to have to be considered beautiful? Are there many different cultural variations on this? Heather Widdows, author of Perfect Me, thinks that today there is a single set of charactestics and that pressure to conform with these has p ... Show More
19m 4s
Sep 21
Miranda Fricker on Blame
We blame people, and sometimes we blame institutions. Miranda Fricker investigates the nature of blame and its functions, draws some important distinctions, and considers the metaphysical implications of this practice. 
23m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Why Buddhism Is True
This week, Ashto and Jonesy venture on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and meditation practices and learn how Buddhism encourages moral clarity and enduring happiness. Written by Robert Wright, Why Buddhism Is True uses the concept of evolutionary psychology and progres ... Show More
28m 8s
Jul 2017
Episode 120: Clap Your Hand for Robert Wright
<p>Special guest Robert Wright joins the podcast to discuss his latest book "Why Buddhism is True." What is the Buddhist conception of not-self?<br /> When we become aware that the boundaries between us and the world are fluid, what is the "we" that arrives at this insight? Can d ... Show More
1h 47m
Oct 2017
#102 — Is Buddhism True?
Sam Harris speaks with Robert Wright about his book Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe. 
55m 37s
May 2021
Zen Buddhism and Social Transformation
Zen Buddhist and Philosophy Professor David R. Loy, author of "EcoDharma" and "Money, Sex, War, and Karma", joins Breht to discuss Zen Buddhism, Western and Eastern Philosophy, Awakening, Socially Engaged Buddhism, the Relevance of Marxism, the psychology of consumerism, and more ... Show More
1h 27m
Dec 2024
Episode #217 ... Religion and Nothingness - Kyoto School pt. 2 - Nishitani
Today we talk about expanding our view of what a religious quest includes. The limits of dualistic thinking. Technological enframing and obsession with utility. Self-emptying. Consciousness, Nihility and Sunyata. Sunyata as immanence. Hope you love it! :) Sponsors: Aura Frames: h ... Show More
44m 48s
Jun 2020
Alan Watts - Philosophy & Society Podcast Series - What Is Reality?
Alan Watts - Far Beyond the West - What Is Reality? Modern Philosophy, Eastern Philosophy, Zen, Buddhism, Hindu Philosophy, Tao, Taoism Alan Watts provides insights into how to break through this veil of reality and what it truly consist of.  Sponsored by: Einstein Funds - Easy a ... Show More
52m 49s
Nov 2024
Episode #216 ... The Self-Overcoming of Nihilism - Kyoto School pt. 1 - Nishitani
Today we look at the work of Keiji Nishitani. We examine Nihilism in a deeper way than we've ever covered on the podcast before. We talk about The Great Doubt. Zen Buddhism. Sunyata. The self as similar to structural linguistics. Hope you enjoy it! :) Thank you so much for listen ... Show More
34m 7s
Feb 2021
Buddhist Enlightenment: Impermanence, No Self, and the Dark Night of the Soul
<p>Breht is joined by Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, author of "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha", to discuss what Enlightenment is in the Buddhist tradition, what it feels like from the inside, what it can and cannot offer the individual and society, spirituality and mysticism ... Show More
1h 37m
Nov 2013
Episode #009 ... The Buddha
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the life of Siddhartha Gautama and his Heisenberg-esque transformation into Buddha. We learn how Buddha left a lifestyle of being fed grapes and being fanned with palm leaves to pursue a life of celibacy, starvation, and sleep depriv ... Show More
44m 31s
Jun 2025
205 - Right View
In this episode, I share the audio recording of a Dharma talk I gave during one of our Sunday Zoom calls. The topic is Right View, the first step on the Buddhist Eightfold Path. Inspired by the book Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, I explore the nature of truth and how we relate to it ... Show More
30m 28s