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The article presents a commentary related to Buddhist philosophical concepts. Topics include the work of a monk, Śantideva who systematized the teaching of Buddhism, the authors claim that Indian and Tibetan Buddhist ethics is a form of consequentialism and a proposal by Vishnu Sridharan that a form of particularism would better interpret the works of Śantideva. Also discussed the author's comparison to the view of Sridharan related to reductionism.

Owen Flanagan's important book The Bodhisattva's Brain presents a naturalized interpretation of Buddhist philosophy. Although the overall approach of the book is very promising, certain aspects of its presentation could benefit from further reflection. Traditional teachings about reincarnation do not contradict the doctrine of no self, as Flanagan seems to suggest; however, they are empirically rather implausible. Flanagan's proposed 'tame' interpretation of karma is too thin; we can do better at fitting karma into a scientific worldview. The relationship between eudaimonist and utilitarian strands in Buddhist ethics is more complex than the book suggests. Flanagan is right to criticize incautious and imprecise claims that Buddhism will make practitioners happy. We can make progress by distinguishing between happiness in the sense of a Buddhist version of eudaimonia, and happiness in the sense of attitudinal pleasure. Doing so might result in an interpretation of Buddhist views about happiness that was simultaneously philosophically interesting, historically credible, and psychologically testable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]