Selfless Minds: A Contemporary Perspective on Vasubandhu's Metaphysics

Selfless Minds offers a new interpretation of no-self metaphysics in Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosa-Bhasya, defending eliminativism about self and persons, and illusionism about the sense of self and self-representation. It presents challenges for Abhidharma Buddhist philosophy of mind, but the book argues that we can salvage much of our experience and thought without implicating self-representations. It also examines the revisionary implications of the no-person metaphysics, suggesting that we should re-evaluate our ordinary person-related practices and concerns in light of each other.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 27 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Selfless Minds presents a fresh perspective on no-self metaphysics in Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosa-Bhasya. Monima Chadha interprets Vasubandhu as advocating not only the elimination of self but also the rejection of personal existence, as well as the illusion of self and all forms of self-representation. This radical no-self thesis poses significant challenges for Abhidharma Buddhist philosophy of mind. Even if we accept the absence of self, we are left with deeper inquiries into the sense of self and self-representations that are inherent in our everyday experiences and thoughts about the world and ourselves. Furthermore, if we acknowledge the absence of persons, questions arise regarding the status of our concerns and practices related to individuals. Selfless Minds addresses these questions on behalf of the Abhidharma Buddhist tradition.

The first part of the book establishes the hypothesis that we can retain a significant portion of our experience and thought without involving self-representations. The second part delves into the revisionary implications of the no-person metaphysics, which may appear unappealing or even absurd. Chadha argues that these implications provide us with reason to re-evaluate both the Abhidharma metaphysics and our ordinary person-related practices and concerns in light of each other through the use of a wide reflective equilibrium.

Selfless Minds contributes to cross-cultural philosophy by exploring the nature of selfless minds from a vantage point that intersects various traditions and disciplines. This includes philosophy in both traditional Buddhist and contemporary Western traditions, as well as contemporary cognitive sciences. Through its comprehensive examination, Selfless Minds offers valuable insights into the complexities of self and consciousness, shedding light on the profound implications of no-self metaphysics for our understanding of the human experience.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 240 x 165 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192844095