Guest Lecture by Professor Mark Siderits (Emeritus)
Madhyamaka Philosophy and Buddhist Practice
We are pleased to announce a guest lecture by Professor Mark Siderits (Emeritus) from Illinois State University, a leading expert in Buddhist philosophy. Professor Siderits will be speaking on November 26, 2024, from 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM in Room M-103.
Topic: Madhyamaka Philosophy and Buddhist Practice
Abstract:
The central tenet of the Madhyamaka school of Mahāyāna Buddhism is that all dharmas are empty or devoid of intrinsic nature. This is a rather shocking claim, given what dharmas are supposed to be—things that exist independently of the ways we happen to think about reality—and what dharmas are supposed to be like—things that bear their natures intrinsically. The claim is shocking because it seems tantamount to saying that strictly speaking, nothing ultimately exists. Mādhyamikas work hard to reject the accusation that they do indeed espouse a form of nihilism. But they also give arguments meant to show that dharmas are indeed devoid of intrinsic nature. After examining several of their arguments, we will address three questions:
- If the emptiness claim is not tantamount to nihilism, what does it mean?
- Could it be possible to prove this claim?
- What could establishing this claim have to do with the Buddhist goal of attaining the cessation of suffering?
Our aim is to achieve a clearer understanding of the place of the Madhyamaka school in the larger Buddhist project.
We warmly invite everyone interested in this thought-provoking topic and look forward to an engaging exchange!