Buddhist Ethics and the Critique of Materialism, Idealism, and Naturalism in the Perspective on Life

Abstract

This article aims to (1) critique the philosophical perspectives on life from the Western traditions namely materialism, idealism, and naturalism and (2) propose a holistic approach to noble living based on Buddhist ethics, which emphasizes the balanced development of body, mind, and wisdom.

The nature of life has long been a central question in philosophy. While Western schools often conceptualize life in terms of physical matter, consciousness, or natural mechanisms, Buddhist philosophy approaches life as a process composed of five aggregates (pañcakkhandha), with no fixed self. This ontological view forms the basis for Buddhist ethics.

This study analyzes the conceptual limitations of each Western perspective and highlights the comprehensive vision of Buddhist ethics, which not only interprets life but also guides how to live well. The Buddhist path to a noble life involves cultivating the Fourfold Development: physical discipline, moral conduct, mental cultivation, and wisdom. Such development enables liberation from ignorance and suffering, leading to a profound understanding of life grounded in impermanence, suffering, and non-self.