Buddhism as Philosophy - PHI00139H

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  • Department: Philosophy
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26

Module summary

This module introduces students to the study of Buddhism as philosophy. Students will consider the metaphysical and ethical implications of the central teachings of the Buddha and associated Buddhist traditions.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2025-26

Module aims

  • To explore some key philosophical issues in Buddhism.

  • To provide a research-led approach to understanding and participating in contemporary debates in Buddhist philosophy.

  • To develop students' abilities to apply philosophical concepts, views, and arguments, in order to advance the understanding of intellectual problems in Buddhist philosophy.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students should be able to explain:

  • Key teachings of the Buddha and the major schools of Buddhism.
  • The philosophical issues they give rise to.
  • Assess whether these problems can be solved using the concepts, views, and arguments of analytic Western philosophy.

Students should be able to evaluate these solutions with reference to Buddhist scripture, tradition, and reason (philosophical, scientific, and other secular sources of knowledge). Finally, students should be able to argue for their preferred solution, or that there is no satisfactory solution.

Students should be able to explain the concepts, views, and philosophical material. They should be able to critically engage with these concepts, views, and arguments, and defend their own position.

Module content

In this module we will:

  • Explore Buddhist arguments for the claim that there is no self and that the person is a conceptual fiction.
  • Examine ethical consequences of Buddhist reductionism (non-self) about persons.
  • Consider the formal structure of Buddhist ethical theory, and whether or not it can be said to align with any Western traditions (e.g., utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics).
  • Look into the metaphysics of the competing Nyaya School of orthodox Indian philosophy and consider the metaphysics of ‘empty persons’.
  • Understand the Mahayana tradition as distinct from the Abhidharma tradition.
  • Examine central chapters of Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika and consider the various ways one can interpret the Mahayana doctrine of emptiness.
  • Understand the Mahayana tradition as distinct from the Abhidharma tradition.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Module feedback

  • Students will receive verbal feedback on formative work via a one-to-one meeting;
  • Written summative feedback will be returned in accordance with University and Departmental policy. There will also be the opportunity to discuss summative feedback verbally.

Indicative reading

  • Siderits, M. [2021] Buddhism as Philosophy. Ashgate.

  • Carpenter, A. [2014] Indian Buddhist Philosophy. Routledge

  • Garfield, J. L. [2015] Engaging Buddhism: Why It Matters to Philosophy. OUP

  • Gowans, C. W. [2003] Philosophy of the Buddha. Routledge.

  • Edelglass, W. & Garfield, J. L. [2009] Buddhist Philosophy: Essential Readings. OUP

  • Garfield, J. L. [1995] The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way. OUP