Seth Auster-RosenPhD Candidate, University of Chicago Divinity SchoolDoth He Refute Well or ‘Protest Too Much’?: Mikyö Dorje’s Critique of Dolpopa’s Zhentong-Madhyamaka PhilosophyTUESDAY, November 12, 5:00 PM, Swift 207The workshop will consist of a short presentation, followed by discussion and Q&A. We will focus on a pre-circulated paper, which will be circulated this Friday, November 8.In his Praise to Dependent Arising, Karmapa Mikyö Dorje (1507-1544), eighth reincarnate hierarch of the powerful Karma Kagyü order of Tibetan Buddhism, critiques the philosophy of Künkhyen Dolpopa (1292-1361), luminary of the rival Jonang order. Dolpopa’s Madhyamaka philosophical view (often referred to as Zhentong-Madhyamaka) is that the ‘kingdom’ of ultimate reality is totally separate from and opposite to the world of conventional appearances. Duckworth (2015), noting the resonance between Dolpopa’s position and the metaphysical dualism of thinkers like Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Leibniz, refers to it as a “Buddhist theo-logic.” But is that really right, or are critics like Mikyö Dorje–and Duckworth along with them–missing something fundamental to Dolpopa’s position? In my paper, an article-length distillation of the first part of my dissertation, I first sketch out the key points of Dolpopa’s view and then delve into Mikyö Dorje’s arguments against it in the Praise. Finally, I return to Dolpopa’s writing to highlight a crucial omission in Mikyö Dorje’s critique, and draw conclusions as to why so many critics like Mikyö Dorje mishandle Dolpopa’s philosophy in the way they do.Hosted by the Philosophy of Religions Workshop at the University of Chicago.
_____________
The Workshop on the Philosophy of Religions is committed to being a fully accessible and inclusive workshop. Please contact Workshop Coordinators Taryn Sue (tarynsue@uchicago.edu) or Yeti Kang (hkang01@uchicago.edu) in order to make any arrangements necessary to facilitate your participation in workshop events.
Seth Auster-Rosen: Doth He Refute Well or ‘Protest Too Much’?: Mikyö Dorje’s Critique of Dolpopa’s Zhentong-Madhyamaka Philosophy
Reply
[PR WS] NEXT TUESDAY: Seth Auster-Rosen at the Philosophy of Religions Workshop