Recognizing Reality: Dharmakirti's Philosophy and Its Tibetan Interpretations (S U N Y Series in Buddhist Studies)

Examines the central ideas of Dharmakirti, one of the most important Indian Buddhist philosophers and their reception by Tibetan thinkers.Dreyfus examines the central ideas of Dharmakirti, one of the most important Indian Buddhist philosophers, and their reception among Tibetan thinkers. During the golden age of ancient Indian civilization, Dharmakirti articulated and defended Buddhist philosophical principles. He did so more systematically than anyone before his time (the seventh century CE) and was followed by a rich tradition of profound thinkers in India and Tibet. This work presents a detailed picture of this Buddhist tradition and its relevance to the history of human ideas. Its perspective is mostly philosophical, but it also uses historical considerations as they relate to the evolution of ideas.Georges B. J. Dreyfus is Assistant Professor of Religion at Williams College. He studied Buddhist philosophy in Tibetan monasteries in India for fifteen years where he completed the degree of Ge-shay, traditionally the highest degree awarded by Tibetan Buddhist monastic universities. Introduction I.a Few Methodological Considerations -- Introduction Ii. Dharmakirti's Tradition In India And Tibet -- Ch. 1. Ontology And Categories -- Ch. 2. Dharmakirti's Ontology -- Ch. 3. The Ambiguities Of The Concept Of Existence -- Ch. 4. The Purview Of The Real -- Ch. 5. Ge-luk Thinkers On Specific Ontology -- Ch. 6. Introducing Universals -- Ch. 7. Dharmakirti On Universals -- Ch. 8. Sa-gya Antirealism And The Problems Of Predication -- Ch. 9. Ge-luk Realism -- Ch. 10. Realism In Buddhist Tradition -- Ch. 11. Introduction To Apoha -- Ch. 12. Dharmakirti On Concept Formation -- Ch. 13. The Concept Of Negation And The Evolution Of The Apoha Theory -- Ch. 14. Object Universal And Concept Formation -- Ch. 15. Philosophy Of Language -- Ch. 16. Dharmakirti's Epistemology Of Valid Cognition -- Ch. 17. Was Dharmakirti A Pragmatist? -- Ch. 18. Can Inference Be Valid? -- Ch. 19. Philosophy Of Perception -- Ch. 20. Dharmakirti's Account Of Perception -- Ch. 21. A New Epistemology Begins: Dharmottara On Perception -- Ch. 22. Tibetan New Epistemology -- Ch. 23. Cha-ba's Philosophy Of Mind -- Ch. 24. Sa-pan's Critique Of The New Epistemology -- Ch. 25. Perception And Apperception -- Ch. 26. Are External Objects Perceptible? -- Ch. 27. Epistemology, Metaphysics, And Religion -- Conclusion: Philosophy As An Education Of The Mind. Georges B.j. Dreyfus. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.