[Advaita-l] Modern Science and Vedanta

[Rajaram Venkataramani]

The philosophy of modern science is perhaps closest to vaisheshikas? There
is a lot of intelligent work done in modern science to establish objective
knowledge and avoid all subjective experiences. There are merits and
demerits with the approach. It would be good to discuss that from the point
of view of how our acharyas dealt with this.

Few good points of modern science:


   - We have to test an hypothesis of how things work and upgrade it to a
   theory after we have "sufficient" evidence and no evidence to the contrary.
   This separates knowledge from "opinions" and "beliefs".
   - A theory should be "falsifiable" meaning that it is testable. This
   allows you to verify empirically.
   - A mathematical theory should be based on deductive or inductive logic -
   so builds on data as a founddation and valid as long as underlying
   assumptions are valid . This allows you to speculate about unseen entities.

Few bad points of modern science:


   - It is not possible to accept subjective experiences (e.g. vision of a
   divine being)
   - It is not possible to accept non-repeatable events (e.g. astrological
   prediction that may work sometime but not always)

The "bad points" are not aimed at removing delusions and intentional
cheating but nevertheless limit knowledge.
On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Dr. Yadu Moharir <ymoharir at yahoo.com>wrote:

> Namaste Srikant:
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Srikanta Narayanaswami <srikanta.narayanaswami at yahoo.com>
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 6:51 AM
> Subject: [Advaita-l] Modern Science and Vedanta
>
> ____________________________________________________________________--
>
> With reference to the above comments,i have the following observations:
>
> <<<<<<
> Even the modern deseases like cancer,aids do not know the cause.there is no
> security.We see only 'Inhumanism"with all these discoveries of science and
> Technology.
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
> Please elaborate of what do you mean by "Inhumanism". I have no clue what
> you are talking about.
>
> Anyone who ignores "pratyaksha" deserves to suffer.  If you tell me that
> India is not suffering then please do gloat on Vedanta.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> ..The vedanta treats the entire causes from the karma point of view.Even
> though the earth has abudant wealth, there is still starvation.
> <<<<<<<<<<<
>
> IMO - Can you please explain me ignoring the knowledge is the biggest sin.
> -  R^ite j~naanaana muktiH
>
> >>>>>>>
> Man is still afraid of the death.the creation of atom bomb by such
> brilliant scientist has killed the humans.
> <<<<<<<<<<
>
> ashtraavakra thus correctly states - moksha kaamasa moksha deva
> bibhiShikaa.
>
> Also, can you recall, how may were killed in mahaabhaarata ?  Did not talk
> about astra, when droNa telss ashvathaama to lay low to the ground to avoid
> exposure.  Wre they not having the weapons of mass destruction?
>
> Did kR^iShNaa ever tell arjuna to give up? On the contrary he tells him to
> get ready and fight.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> The proliferation of dehabhimana has only increased the myth that  the body
> is permanent.The material advancement has only increased the glorification
> of 'flesh'which even the christians despise in their Psalms.
> <<<<<<<
>
> This "sanyaasa" model is probably the root cause of total "satyaanaasa" ,
> as Indians gave-up their identity.  and at the same time elevated British to
> the level of Gods.  Lord Mackule, Lord Curzon, Lord Mpountbatten .... etc.
> and refer to vedick divinities as "Lord" as well  (Lord ViShNu", Lord shiiva
> .... etc).
>
> The point I am trying to make is that Veda has some observational knowledge
> that is applicable to the present.  Our sages made lot of effort preserve
> the text through oral traditions (ghana paaTha, jaTaapaaTha, pdapaaTha,
> rathapaaTha, rekhipaaTha ... etc) but there is not effort to understand what
> they may have done so and what was that knowledge can come of it be useful
> to make our lives better?
>
> .Acharya Shankara became sanyaasi by giving up his personal family, but did
> he not create even a bigger family by establishing various maTha in call
> corners of India.. With introduction of pa~Ncaayatana puujaa he tred to
> unite various groups and cults ( saiva, vaiShNava, gaaNapatya, devi
> uapaasaka ....etc).
>
> If you say the vedanta is not science then please read Dr. Sadananda's post
> carfully.  It is science and nothing but the science that uses the
> scientific methodologies.  My point is that Vedaanti have no desire to apply
> their vendanta by ignoring the existing knowledge "veda".
>
> Dr. Yadu
>
>
>
>
>
> N.Srikanta.
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