BlackBird wrote:Science is also said to be emperical [sic] truth.
Science is the process of obtaining knowledge by using the scientific method. There's no such thing as 'empirical truth' (for 'truth', see philosophy). In science, all evidence must be empirical, but this does not mean all empirical evidence is science
The scientific method, as laid out by our friendly wikipedia editors, is:
1) Characterisations (observations, definitions, and measurements of the subject of inquiry)
2) Hypotheses (theoretical, hypothetical explanations of observations and measurements of the subject)
3) Predictions (reasoning including logical deduction from the hypothesis or theory)
4) Experiments (tests of all of the above)
Superficially, this might look a lot like Buddhism: characterising the problem (dukkha), hypothetical explanation (craving), predictions (get rid of craving, get rid of dukkha) and experiments (follow the noble eightfold path and see for yourself) but
importantly this isn't
strictly the scientific method: point 4, experiments, pertains to conducting experiments to try to disprove point 2 by getting a different result than point 3. Conducting experiments to try to 'proove' point 3 constitutes a converse error, a logical fallacy. Hence, science is in the business of forever trying to prove itself wrong.
With the four noble truthes, can practicing them lead to evidence that the hypothesis (craving causes dukkha) is wrong? I don't think so for two reasons. Firstly, if someone was practicing it their whole life but did not attain freedom from dukkha we would not say "ah, that means Buddhism is wrong", we might say "they weren't doing it right" or "their past conditioning meant they weren't ready" or something else like that. I wonder, has this ever happened? If it had, I doubt it would have been documented but it would be interesting
.
The second reason is simple: I believe that dukkha IS caused by craving. I believe the Buddha was right. In my practice I've seen a lot of anecdotal evidence to make me believe it. My belief isn't strictly based on science, it's based on reason and anecdotal evidence. I personally believe that no experiment can be formulated to try to prove the Buddha wrong because, simply, the Buddha was right.
<shrugs> so, just like it says in the Canki Sutta:
Canki Sutta wrote:
Buddha: "Exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth, Bharadvaja. If one didn't make an exertion, one wouldn't finally attain the truth. Because one makes an exertion, one finally attains the truth. Therefore, exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for exertion? We ask Master Gotama about the quality most helpful for exertion."
Buddha: "Contemplating is most helpful for exertion, Bharadvaja. If one didn't contemplate, one wouldn't make an exertion. Because one contemplates, one makes an exertion. Therefore, contemplating is most helpful for exertion."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for contemplating?..."
Buddha: "Being willing... If one weren't willing, one wouldn't contemplate..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for being willing?..."
Buddha: "Desire... If desire didn't arise, one wouldn't be willing..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for desire?..."
Buddha: "Coming to an agreement through pondering dhammas... If one didn't come to an agreement through pondering dhammas, desire wouldn't arise..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for coming to an agreement through pondering dhammas?..."
Buddha: "Penetrating the meaning... If one didn't penetrate the meaning, one wouldn't come to an agreement through pondering dhammas..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for penetrating the meaning?..."
Buddha: "Remembering the Dhamma... If one didn't remember the Dhamma, one wouldn't penetrate the meaning..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for remembering the Dhamma?... "
Buddha: "Hearing the Dhamma... If one didn't hear the Dhamma, one wouldn't remember the Dhamma..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for hearing the Dhamma?... "
Buddha: "Lending ear... If one didn't lend ear, one wouldn't hear the Dhamma..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for lending ear?... "
Buddha: "Growing close... If one didn't grow close, one wouldn't lend ear..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for growing close?... "
Buddha: "Visiting... If one didn't visit, one wouldn't grow close..."
Bharadvaja: "But what quality is most helpful for visiting? We ask Master Gotama about the quality most helpful for visiting."
Buddha: "Conviction is most helpful for visiting, Bharadvaja. If conviction [in a person] didn't arise, one wouldn't visit [that person]. Because conviction arises, one visits. Therefore, conviction is most helpful for visiting."
Conviction is most helpful for beginning on that long path with the dhamma to final attainment. I don't think this fits well with point 4 of the scientific method: trying to prove it wrong.
(Just my thoughts on the matter)