Buddhism: between philosophy and religion
Buddhism: between philosophy and religion

Summary/Abstract: The question of the character of Buddhism — whether it belongs to the re alms of philosophy or religion — emerged in the early stages of Buddhist studies and is still valid to this day. It is often emphasised that the answer to this question depends on the definitions of the underlying key terms. Thus, some assert that Buddhism is a religion, some — a philosophy. Another opinion is that these terms are connected by a conjunction, rather than alternative denial, and therefore both can be applied to the description of Buddhism as they encompass its varied aspects. On a social and cultural level, Buddhism possesses all the characteristics of a religion, and on an individual level it comes across as a practical philosophy of life which belongs to the same philosophical model as ancient Stoicism, Epicureanism, or Neoplatonism.

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