Overview

Graham Priest presents an exploration of Buddhist metaphysics, drawing on texts which include those of Nãgãrjuna and Dõgen. The development of Buddhist metaphysics is viewed through the lens of the catu.sko.ti. At its simplest, and as it appears in the earliest texts, this is a logical/ metaphysical principle which says that every claim is true, false, both, or neither; but the principle itself evolves, assuming new forms, as the metaphysics develops. An important step in the evolution incorporates ineffability. Such things make no sense from the perspective of a logic which endorses the principles of excluded middle and non-contradiction, which are standard fare in Western logic. However, the book shows how one can make sense of them by applying the techniques of contemporary non-classical logic, such as those of First Degree Entailment, and Plurivalent Logic. An important issue that emerges as the book develops is the notion of non-duality and its transcendence. This allows many of the threads of the book to be drawn together at its end. All matters are explained, in as far as possible, in a way that is accessible to those with no knowledge of Buddhist philosophy or contemporary non-classical logic.

Full Product Details

9780192894670

Table of Contents

Reviews

The book might remind readers of [Priest's] landmark 2002 Beyond the Limits of Thought; even though the historical and conceptual scope in the present volume is narrower, many of the key features are still there. The general project Priest pursues in this book strikes me as very important. I therefore hope that his book will inspire many enthusiastic successors. * Jan Westerhoff, Mind * The Fifth Corner of Four may be most suitable for an audience trained in the field of Philosophy rather than Buddhist Studies. * Ronald S. Green, Coastal Carolina University, Journal of Buddhist Ethics * This book is simply beautiful. With its elegant cover art and comfortable size, it is a pleasure to look at, to hold, and to read. Moreover, Priest ... does a lovely job of tracing the evolution of Buddhism ... Highly recommended. * G. Wrisley, CHOICE * an adventurous expedition through two millennia of Buddhist metaphysics . .. plenty of fascinating material . . . rich in clear argument and interpretation of ancient Buddhist texts . . . I highly recommend this book to philosophers, logicians and buddhologists and everybody else interested in Buddhist philosophy. * Adrian Kreutz, Philosophy in Review *

Author Information

Graham Priest, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, City University of New York

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