#165 Buddhist Emptiness Explained - Jan Westerhoff
Summary
Jan Westerhoff discusses Nāgārjuna’s Madhyamaka school, explaining its core concept of emptiness and the "middle way" between eternalism and nihilism. He explores how dependent origination avoids ontological nihilism through the two truths doctrine and non-foundational causal structures. The episode also examines Madhyamaka’s presentist view of time, arguing that causation relies on mental constructs like memory rather than mind-independent forces.
Topics discussed
Introduction and tour announcement
Nagarjuna's biography and the Middle Way
Perfection of Wisdom texts and emptiness
The Middle Way between extremes
Ontological nihilism and mereological nihilism
Dependence relations and conceptual minds
Sponsor segment: Ground News
Karma, two truths, and causal power
Infinite regress and coherentism
First causes and existential dependence
Presentism and the nature of time
Parallels with Kantian philosophy
Emptiness of intrinsic nature
Emptiness is empty and therapeutic goals
Escaping suffering through insight
Meditative realization and non-self
Consciousness and Advaita Vedanta
Conventional reality and concluding thoughts
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