Scientific knowledge is based on
observation, measurement and experiment, thus on experience, not on authority.
Much spiritual teaching is based on the authority of scriptures or gurus. If it
can be established that a guru knows whereof he speaks, then it makes sense to
accept his authority at least provisionally although many gurus claim more than
merely provisional authority. Buddhist spiritual teaching is a guide to practice
and is to be confirmed or disconfirmed by individual experience. On this basis
so far, I accept the teaching of karma (action and consequences) though not of
individual rebirth. Zen monks authoritatively tell us what the teaching is but
we are not obliged to accept the teaching on their authority.
Utopian socialism is an idea based not
on authority but on abstract reasoning. It would be good if the economy were
co-operative, not competitive etc. Utopian socialists can only argue that their
idea is better than the current reality whereas Marxist theory guides the kind
of political practice that potentially builds socialism. Effective arguments for
socialism occur in the context of struggle against aspects of the capitalist
system and of its state apparatus. All such struggles potentially challenge the
system and demonstrate how to overthrow it. Thus, Marxism is "scientific socialism", to be
confirmed or disconfirmed by collective experience. Marxism would be disproved
either by a crisis-free capitalism or by the continued oppression of social
minorities in a genuinely socialist, as opposed to state capitalist, economy.
Also, Marxist theory has developed in the light of subsequent experience. Such
development continues to explain
capitalism, not accommodate to it.
Buddhism contrasts with authoritarian
and theistic spiritual traditions. Marxism contrasts with utopian and reformist
socialist movements. Although neither Buddhist teaching nor
Marxist theory achieves scientific precision, they are our
closest approaches to scientific spirituality and socialism.
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