Introduction: Buddhism and Science - Breaking Down the Barriers

The article opens by asking whether Buddhism and science are commensurable. Wallace first discusses the view that religion and science are “non-overlapping magisteria,” then questions whether Buddhism fits standard Western definitions of religion. He argues that Buddhist contemplative practices such as śamatha and vipaśyanā involve disciplined observation, experiential inquiry, and replicable forms of mental training. The later sections analyze scientific materialism, including objectivism, reductionism, monism, physicalism, and the closure principle. Wallace then examines the “religious” status of scientific materialism and the limitations of postmodern cultural relativism. The article concludes by advocating a path of dialogue and collaboration, in which Buddhism and science jointly investigate consciousness, the natural world, and the conditions for meaningful human flourishing.