Moonshadows: Conventional Truth in Buddhist Philosophy

ISBN-13: 9780199751433 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 272 str.

Cowherds; The Cowherds

Opis

The doctrine of the two truths--a conventional truth and an ultimate truth--is central to Buddhist metaphysics and epistemology. The two truths (or two realities), the distinction between them, and the relation between them is understood variously in different Buddhist schools and is of special importance to the Madhyamaka school. The fundamental ideas are articulated with particular force by Nagarjuna (2nd--3rd century CE) who famously claims that the two truths are identical to one another, and yet distinct. One of the most influential interpretations of Nagarjuna's difficult doctrine derives from the commentary of Candrakirti (6th century CE). While much attention has been devoted to explaining the nature of the ultimate truth in view of its special soteriological role, less has been paid to understanding the nature of conventional truth, which is often described as "deceptive," "illusion," or "truth for fools." But conventional truth is nonetheless truth. This book therefore asks, "what is true about conventional truth?" and "What are the implications of an understanding of conventional truth for our lives?"

Recenzje

a high-quality, engaging work, which is accessible to undergraduates and of interest to specialists. The Cowherds are to be commended for having provided a home on the range for anyonereally, anyoneinterested to understand a philosophically significant, Buddhist approach to the nature of truth.

O autorze

JG: Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy, Smith College