When1: 150
When2: 200
Who: Nagarjuna
What: philosopher
Where: Nalanda, Bihar, India
works\ Guidebook for the School of the Middle Way [150 to 200]
Detail: He founded Madhyamika, Sunyavada, or Voidist School of Mahayana Buddhism. He used the dialectic to break fixed conceptions and to prove that all signs are meaningless, that all is and is not, and that all statements are refutable {Doctrine of the Void}.
Epistemology
To have true knowledge, people should detach from everything and be aware of Emptiness. Using logic to prove contradictions forces coming to the concept of emptiness, neither being nor non-being. Therefore, all things are empty. They come into being for moments but are dependent. In emptiness, there is no contradiction and no strife.
Knowledge depends on external-object reality, but their reality comes from ability to know, so everything depends on varying perspectives and is not certain. Cause and effect are both meaningless. Pain and pleasure are both meaningless.
Ethics
The highest goal is the Void, but Void is neither void nor not-void, because it is indescribable, with no goal, no burden, and no conflict.
Middle Way is balanced moderate life. People should not attach {non-attachment} to the 75 dharmas.
Metaphysics
Only one Void exists, so no metaphysics is true. Only relations exist. Things only have momentary existence. Being or substance is always ordering and forming {dharma, Nagarjuna}, with no permanent order or form.
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Date Modified: 2022.0224