Emptiness appraised : a critical study of Nāgārjuna's philosophy / David Burton.

Introduction
The Purpose of this Study
Three Readings of Nagarjuna's Philosophy
Some General Reflections on the Interpretation of Nagarjuna
The Philosophical Study of Madhyamaka
The Problem of Authorship
2 Nagarjuna and Scepticism
Introduction
The Nature of Scepticism
Scepticism, Negative Dogmatism, and Positive Dogmatism
The Scope of Scepticism
Undogmatic and Dogmatic Global Scepticism
Present Global Scepticism and the Future
Classical Scepticism
Isosthenia and epoche in Classical Scepticism •
Academic and Pyrrhonian Scepticism
Nagarjuna Interpreted as a Sceptic
A Refutation of the Sceptical Interpretation
Nagarjuna's Knowledge-Claim
A Non-Sceptical Reading of MMK XIII, 8
A Non-Sceptical Reading of YS 50-51
The Non-Sceptical Purpose of Nagarjuna's Method of Argumentation
A Final Objection Considered
3 Non-Conceptuality and Knowledge of Reality
Introduction
Conceptualizabllity and Expressibility
Interpretation (1): Non-Conceptual Knowledge of an
Unconceptualizable Reality
The Unconceptualizable Reality - Immanent or Transcendent?
Is Interpretation (I) Supported By Textual Evidence?
A Philosophical Critique of Interpretation (1)
The Paradox of Unconceptualizability and Ineffahility
The Problem of the Two Truths
The Night In Which All Cows are Black
S. Katz, etc on Non-Conceptual Religious Knowledge
Concluding Philosophical Reflections on Interpretation (1)
Interpretation (2): The Non-Conceptual Meditative Knowledge
Experience of Emptiness
Knowledge of Reality Versus the Reality Which is Known
Knowledge of Reality is an Experience
A Short Digression. The Private Nature of Experience
(1) Knowledge by Acquaintance
(2) Lack of Explicit Conceptualization
(3) Focussed Conceptualization
Concluding Remarks on and Criticisms of Interpretation (2)
The Problem of Emptiness as a Mere Absence
Interpretation (2) and the Question of Nihilism
4 The Problem of Nihilism
Introduction: The Charge of Nihilism and Nagarjuna's Response
The Abhidharma Notion of svahhdva
Nagarjuna's Notion of nihsvabhdva Understood in the Abhidharma
Context
A Terminological Difference?
Universal Absence of svahhdva as Equivalent to prajhaptiwdtra
Evidence fot prajhaptimdtra in Nagarjuna's Writings
Dependence on Parts
'Samvrti' and 'sdmvrta' in the AS '
'Samvrti and 'vyavahdra' in MMK XXIV
Synonyms for prajhaptimdtra
The Non-Origination of Dependently Originating Entities
Comparisons with Dreams, Illusions, etc
MMK XXrV, 18: An Analysis
Prajhaptimdtra and karma
Prajhaptimatra'and the Possibility of a Public World
The Nihilistic Consequences of prajhaptimdtra
An Alternative Reading
Textual Difficulties
A Philosophical Problem
Conclusion
Part II
5 The Purpose of Part II
6 The Nyaya Pramdna Theory
Introduction
Cognition (jfiana)
Cognition in the N5
The Developed Nyaya Theory of Cognition
Pramana-%
Praiiteya-s
Nyaya Realism
7 Nagarjuna's Non-Apprehension of Entities
The Opponent's Objection at VV/VVC 5-6
Nagarjuna's Response at VV/VVC 30
8 Mutually Dependent Existence
Nagarjuna's Position
Mutual Dependence and nihsvahhava
A Critical Analysis of Nagarjuna's Position
9 The Attack on Validation: Introduction
Nagarjuna's Challenge to the Realist
The Purpose of Nagarjuna's Attack
The Theories of Validation Refuted by Nagarjuna
The Validation of Knowledge-episodes Versus the Reflexivity of
Consciousness
10 The Attack on Intrinsic Validation
Intrinsic Validation (1); The pramdna-s are Validated by Other
pramdna-^
Nagarjuna's Refutation of Intrinsic Validation (1)
A Solution to the Infinite Regress Problem
Intrinsic Validation (2): The pramdna-s are Self-Evident
The Fire/l.amp Analogy
Nagarjuna's Refutation of Intrinsic Validation (2)
Critical Analysis of Nagarjuna's Five Arguments ^
Some Further Reflections on Self-Evident Knowledge-episodes
An Argument Against Both Intrinsic Validation (1) and (2)
11 The Attack on Extrinsic Validation
Extrinsic Validation (1): The pramdnd-s are Validated by the prameya-s
Nagarjuna's Refutation of Extrinsic Validation (I)
Emptiness Appraised
Extrinsic Validation (2): Pramdnas and prameya-s are Mutually
Validating Igg
Nagarjuna's Refutation of Extrinsic Validation (2) 186
A Reply to Nagarjuna's Refutation 186
12 The Attack on Validation: Conclusion 189
13 The Argument from the Three Times I9l
Analysis of the Argument 191
The Naiyayika Objection 194
Nagarjuna's Response to the Naiyayika Objection 195
Another Madhyamika Response Considered 196
14 Further Arguments in the Vaidalyaprakarana 201
The Analysis of the Perception of a Pot 201
Refutation of the pramdna as a Cognition which Corresponds to
the Object as prameya 204
The Object Cognized is Just a Condition of the Knowledge-episode 204
The Cognition is a prameya. According to the Naiyayikas
Themselves 206
15 Conclusion 209
Appendix: Some Further Reflections on Svabhdva in Indian
Madhyamaka 213
Candrakirti's Claim that the Actual svabhdva of Entities is
Their Lack of svabhdva 213
Adumbrations of Candrakirti's View in Nagarjuna's Writings 214
A gzhan stong Interpretation of A5 44-45b 218
Bibliography 221
Index 228