Abstract

The main topics of this dissertation are the Zen Buddhist understanding of the middle way and the law of the excluded middle. The Zen position is established through a discussion of the following: intuitionism; Buddhist reasoning; causation as a relational concept; Zen Buddhist theories on language, truth, mind, and no-mind; and Zen and mathematical ways of knowing. ;The idea of the middle way is to maintain equanimity. The theory of the middle way enables Buddhists to "see" transforming reality "as it is" , a non-dualistic view about humans and how they relate to each other and to the world. The practice of the middle way is tantamount to an intellectual and spiritual journey. ;In the Zen experience, the mind integrates different notions into a coherent body of knowledge. Based on such all-inclusive knowledge, the law of the excluded middle cannot be absolutely true, but the law is acceptable from the viewpoint of relativity. The Zen treatment of the law is not logical, but the understanding of the law should stem from inner and intuitive grasping. ;Like Zen monks, mathematicians are intuitive; like Zen, mathematics contains some enigmas. Zen monks advocate the view that true wisdom is attainable outside the domain of language and intellect. Similarly, mathematicians acknowledge that the excessive use of language and reasoning is often a hindrance to deeper apprehension, and they recognize the importance of intuition as a means to understanding mathematics beyond the range of reasoning. Hence, both Zen monks and mathematicians meet in a "languageless world" to unlock the deepest secret of reality