Buddhism and Modern Society

Subject Overview

This subject explores how Buddhism engages with contemporary challenges. Students will develop advanced knowledge of global Buddhism, including modernist, postmodern and neoliberal currents, examining diverse manifestations in various cultural contexts. Students will analyse and synthesise the interactions between Buddhism and modern society, critically review contemporary dynamics, and reflect on how their positionalities influence interpretation. Students will engage with advanced research tools such as GenAI tools. This subject also emphasises the application of reflective skills suited to advanced academic inquiry.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of global Buddhism, such as developments in Buddhist modernism.
2. Analyse and synthesise complex interactions between contemporary societal issues and Buddhist thought, and effectively communicate these insights in a structured academic presentation.
3. Critically review contemporary dynamics shaping Buddhism in modern societies, using advanced research tools. e.g. generative AI, to assess the validity and limitations of such tools.
4. Apply reflective skills to evaluate how cultural, historical and personal factors shape one’s interpretation of Buddhism in contemporary society. 

Assessments

• Assessment 1: Dialogic assessment on concepts related to global Buddhism (10%, due week 2 or 3)
• Assessment 2: Presentation on Buddhism’s interaction with contemporary societal issues (30%, due week 4)
• Assessment 3: Critical review of a prescribed reading together with a report on the use of advanced research tools (30%, due week 7)
• Assessment 4: A reflective essay that critically discusses the influence of cultural, historical and personal factors on one’s applied engagement with Buddhism in contemporary life (30%, due week 10)