August Strindberg : början till en biografi /

Mode of access: Internet

Tradition, Science and Experience An Analysis of Mindfulness and New Age in the Modern Western Society

The purpose of the present study is to investigate mindfulness as a New Age phenomenon in the modern western society. Since a religious phenomenon does not exist in a vacuum, but is dependent on its historical and cultural context, my aim is to give a broad depiction of mindfulness and New Age in its wider context, the historical background and the societal implications of common values, themes and concepts that are frequent in the literature, how mindfulness is presented by the authors of popular literature and also how it is presented in science. In order to bring forward a deeper understanding of New Age and mindfulness’ role in the modern western society, my intention is to see how the authors of mindfulness claim validity of their doctrines in the discourse. Mindfulness attracts a wide range of perpetrators and is used in many areas in the society today. The values evident in the literature are very different from the traditional Buddhist context and it is obvious how the authors are using mindfulness almost as an emblem to legitimize their own doctrines, often in accordance with the values central in New Age in general. They claim validity by claiming that their doctrines are either scientific, based on tradition and/or founded on personal experience, but by examination these claims are used only rhetoric with no authenticity. The values found in the literature may be seen as a radicalization of the values in the modern western society. Also, the themes appearing in the literature are often new translations of scientific discoveries, like evolutionism, that are given a spiritual meaning or they are secular values like individualism, which are understood spiritually. This may be understood as a process of re-sacralization of a secular world, using themes that are accepted in the discourse

Lévinas and the Other Keys to an Applicable Ethics in the Postmodern Society

Emmanuel Lévinas is one of the great ethics in the 20th century. His contribution to the philosophical discourse defies our thinking and behavior in a revolutionary way. He dismisses every categorization, every tematization, every moral based on an analytical reflection and compels us with an ethics that demands us not only to think, but to act and be responsible. The 21st century’s emphasis of the individual, globalization, plurality and the questioning of authorities has created new challenges for the individual who sees herself as the nave of morality. The aim of this study is to analyze the philosophy of Lévinas in the context of the postmodern tendencies to try to find an approach that might meet the challenges and the needs of the individual in this new society that effloresce. The analysis has shown that Lévinas’ emphasis on autonomy, individualization and sensibility as well as his accentuation of the Other, the stranger worthy of our respect and responsibility, harmonizes well with the postmodern tendencies in the 21st century. Lévinas sees the autonomy of the individual as a prerequisite for her ability to meet the Other with an open mind and with deep respect, to see her as a unique human being apart from the totality of the oppressive potentate. Lévinas asks us to be in the moment, see the stranger as he is and not as we want him to be, and be open enough to see the Infinity in his eyes. In a world of globalization and plurality, Lévinas’ non-judgmental approach to the Other, is an ethics that neither forces the individual to listen to authorities, nor becoming dependent, being a part of the ideology of the totality, but encourages her to stay independent, responsible of her own life and freedom. Lévinas’ ethics stands in total opposition of the modern objective-subjective approach, goes against preconceptions and a narrow thinking, encourages openness, autonomy, the uniqueness of the individual, the gift of infinity that exists in the face of the stranger and does as such go hand in hand with globalization, individualization and plurality that are important elements in postmodernism