Ontological Commitment in Nāgārjuna’s Madhyamaka on Inherent Existence and the Emptiness of Emptiness

This paper explores Nāgārjuna’s Madhyamaka philosophy, particularly focusing on the ontological consequences of his doctrine of emptiness and rejection of inherent existence. In it, I will examine Nāgārjuna’s nuanced anti-realist ontology that both denies the ultimate existence of all entities while preserving their conventional reality. Through an analysis of several aspects of Nāgārjuna’s Madhyamaka and their logical consequences, this study aims to demonstrate the internal coherence of Nāgārjuna’s thought. I additionally address potential objections to Nāgārjuna, attempting to defend Nāgārjuna’s philosophy as both consistent and rigorous, with enduring relevance to both Buddhist thought and contemporary philosophical discourse. This project was conducted in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, from November 13 to December 4, 2024. Research consisted of a review of several works from contemporary and historical scholarship on Nāgārjuna and discussion with local teachers and other experts on the topic. These findings were then compiled and developed on to form the present paper.