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From Pyrrhonism to Madhyamaka: paradoxical solutions to skeptical problems

dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Stephen G., author
dc.contributor.authorArchie, Andre, advisor
dc.contributor.authorMacKenzie, Mattthew, committee member
dc.contributor.authorChong, Edwin, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-10T20:04:48Z
dc.date.available2018-09-10T20:04:48Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractSkepticism as a philosophical school of thought is best embodied by Greek Pyrrhonism and Indian Madhyamaka. Between these two schools, however, Pyrrhonism is bogged down on issues that Madhyamaka is not. For Greek Pyrrhonism, scholarship revolves around the issue that skeptics cannot have beliefs, and yet this is something they believe. For Indian Madhyamaka, scholarship points towards a skeptical position that is consistently paradoxical. This paper will first explore the discussion on Sextus Empiricus' Pyrrhonism as established by Michael Frede, Myles Burnyeat, and Jonathan Barnes. From there, a closer look at Aristotle, Anselm, and Immanuel Kant will show that paradoxes are more common in philosophy than normally acknowledged. An in-depth discussion of Nāgārjuna and Śāntideva's Madhyamaka skepticism using interpretations from Jay Garfield and Graham Priest will illustrate how paradoxes at the limits of thought can correctly capture skepticism. Using the understanding of Madhyamaka, the debate on Pyrrhonism and beliefs will be shown to be correctly paradoxical. Finally, the paper will conclude that skepticism itself not only paradoxical, but an impressive and valuable philosophical position.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierWilliams_colostate_0053N_14957.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/191367
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectMadhyamaka
dc.subjectPyrrhonian
dc.subjectskepticism
dc.subjectparadox
dc.subjectPyrrhonism
dc.subject.lcshBuddhism
dc.titleFrom Pyrrhonism to Madhyamaka: paradoxical solutions to skeptical problems
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplinePhilosophy
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (M.A.)

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