Abstract
In this paper, I would like to examine Nāgārjuna’s idea of the self and its contemporaneity interpretations in philosophy. As we know, Nāgārjuna examines the emptiness (Śūnyatā) of various things in which the emptiness of the self occupies an important position in the Buddhist philosophical tradition. The main aim of this paper is to understand the meaning of emptiness to explain the nature of the self and to show how it is different from the substantial notion of self. However, Nāgārjuna’s idea of the self is not identical with the contemporary materialistic notion of self. The paper is divided into five sections. In the first section, I would like to explain the nature of emptiness in relation to self and how it is different from the substantial self. The second section will focus on the constituents of the self. The third section will bring out the nature of self. In the fourth section and last section, I would like to bring out Nāgārjuna’s idea of the emptiness of the self with respect to the contemporary debates on the nature of self.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bimal M (1989) Nyāya critique of the Buddhist doctrine of non-soul. J Indian Philos 17(1989):76
Blackmore S (2005) Conversations on consciousness. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Chakravarti A (1982) The Nyāya proofs for the existence of the soul. J Indian Philos X:222–223
Chandrakirti (1995) Guide to the Middle Way, VI.151. In: Kelsang Gyatso (Translated) Ocean of Nectar: Wisdom and Compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. Thrapa Publication
Chatterjee S, Datta D (2008) An introduction to indian philosophy, 8th edn. University of Calcutta, India
Christopher G (2003) Philosophy of the Buddha. Routledge, USA
Collins S (1982) Selfless persons, imaginary and thought in Therāvāda Buddhim. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
David H (1896) A treatise of human nature. Clarendon Press, England
Dennett Daniel C (1991) Consciousness explained. Little, Brown and Co, USA
Dennett DC (1998) Quining Qualia. In: Ned B, Owen F, Güven G (eds) The nature of consciousness. The MIT Press, Cambridge
Devitt M (1991) Realism and truth. Princeton University Press, USA
Edelglass W, Garfield Jay L (2009) Buddhist philosophy: essential readings. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Garfield JL (1994) Dependent co-origination and the emptiness of emptiness: why did Nāgārjuna begin with causation? Philosophy East and West 44(II):219–250
Garfield JL (2002) Empty words: buddhist philosophy and cross-cultural interpretation. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Garfield JL (2009) Nāgārjuna’s Mulamādhyakārikā (Fundamental Verses of the Middle Way): Chap. 24: Examination of the Four Nobel Truth. In: William E, Garfield JL (eds) Buddhist philosophy: essential readings. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Huntington CW (1989) The emptiness of emptiness. a study of early Indian Mādhyamika. University of Hawaii Press, Hawaii
Kalupahana David J (1991) Mulamādhyamakārika of Nāgārjuna: the philosophy of the middle way. Motilal Banrsidass Publishers Private Limited, India
Nagao GM (1991) Mādhyamaka and Yogāchara: A Study of Mahāyana Philosophies. (translated by L. S. Kawamura and G. M. Nagao) New York University Press, NY
Narain H (1997) The Madhyamika Mind. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, India
Pradhan RC (2005) Rediscovering the metaphysical self. In: Chattopadhyaya DP (ed) Society and Science: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives, Vol. X, Part 2, History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization. Centre for Studies in Civilization
Shoemaker S (1984) Identity, cause and mind. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Strawson G (1997) The self. J Conscious Stud 4(5–6):405–428
Westerhoff J (2009) Nāgārjuna’s Mādhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Wittgenstein L (1976) Philosophical Investigations, Part I, (Trans. by Anscombe GEM). Basil Blackwell, Oxford
Wood Thomas E (1994) Nagarjunian disputations: a philosophical journey through an indian looking-glass. University of Hawaii Press, Hawaii
Zahavi D, Parnas J (1999) Phenomenal consciousness and self-awareness: a phenomenological critique of representational theory. In: Shaun G, Shear J (eds) Models of the self. Imprint Academic, UK
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nath, R. The problem of self in Nāgārjuna’s philosophy: a contemporary perspective. AI & Soc 33, 537–543 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-017-0702-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-017-0702-y