Negative Dialectics in Nāgārjuna's Thought as a Critique of Substantialist Ontology in Contemporary Western Philosophy
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This research examines the negative dialectic method in Nāgārjuna's thought as a philosophical approach to dismantling the ontological assumption of permanent existence (svabhāva), which is dominant in the Western philosophical tradition and tends to be essentialist and individualistic. This study was conducted as a response to the existential and social crises that arise from dualistic and non-relational ways of understanding reality. Using a qualitative approach, this study analyzes Nāgārjuna's key texts, namely the Mūlamādhyamakakārikā and Vigrahavyāvartani, through close reading techniques and critical discourse analysis to reveal the structure of the arguments and the philosophical assumptions embedded within them. The results show that Nāgārjuna's negative dialectic consistently rejects intrinsic existence and demonstrates that all phenomena are interdependent. This understanding gives rise to a compassion-based ethical perspective (karuṇā) as a logical implication of emptiness (śūnyatā), encouraging the formation of a more relational and empathetic consciousness. The implications of this research lie in its contribution to the development of a global ethic based on interdependence, which can be applied in social policy, education, and environmental conservation. This research asserts that emptiness is not nihilism but rather a philosophical foundation for building collective solidarity. The originality of this research lies in its attempt to connect Nāgārjuna's classical thought with contemporary challenges in a cross-cultural manner. This approach expands the role of negative dialectics as a tool for critiquing and transforming social consciousness towards a more inclusive and compassionate ethics and politics.
Author: Shannon Brincat
Institution: University of the Sunshine Coast
Language: English
Topic: Indian and Buddhist Studies
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409826329