Buddhist Metaphysics? Making the Case for Enlarging Metaphysics with Mādhyamika Philosophy, or, How Emptiness is Relevant to What There is

Buddhist Metaphysics? Making the Case for Enlarging Metaphysics with Mādhyamika Philosophy, or, How Emptiness is Relevant to What There is

Audio recording of a lecture given by Pierre-Julien Harter on April 12, 2024 as part of the Dean's Lecture & Concert Series. The Dean's Office has provided this description of the event: “Buddhist metaphysics, especially in the Madhyamika version which insists on the emptiness of all things, has often been interpreted as anti-metaphysical. Yet, it seems that Buddhist philosophers were still after the same question Aristotle wondered about – what is it for something to be? – even when they answered that all things are empty of essence or inherent nature. Taking a detour through Aristotelian and Medieval philosophies, this talk attempts to use a more historical definition of metaphysics to argue that a similar feature can be found in both Western metaphysics and in Buddhist Mādhyamika thought, a double approach displayed in the special and general metaphysics of the Medievals and of the two truths of Buddhist thinkers. This supports reading Buddhist Mādhyamika texts as offering metaphysical accounts of reality, but also, conversely, allows us to enrich both our conception of the content of metaphysics and of the kind of activity it claims to be.”

Santa Fe, NM

2024-04-12

Meem Library has been given permission to make this item available online.

sound

mp3

English

SF_HarterJ_Buddihst_Metaphysics?_2024-04-12

m4a

01:02:56