Daniel Goleman opens the Dialogue by introducing its central inquiry: how emotional states such as anger, joy, and calm affect physical health, and how Western science and Buddhist thought might deepen one another’s understanding of this relationship. Lee Yearley then provides a philosophical framework for the discussion, arguing that scientific, religious, and humanistic approaches each …

Continue reading “Virtues and Vices”

Francisco Varela introduces psychoneuroimmunology by describing the immune system as a kind of “second brain” that works alongside the nervous system to maintain the body’s health and identity. He explains how networks of lymphocytes, including B cells and T cells, recognize and respond to molecular signals through activation, suppression, and antibody production, much as neurons …

Continue reading “Psychoneuroimmunology”