Philosophy East and West

Abstract:

This article offers a close reading of a portion of the first chapter of the Ātmatattvaviveka, examining how Udayana treats the problem of thought and talk about non-existent objects, insofar as that problem relates to his critique of the Buddhist thesis of universal momentariness. I argue that, because the text is primarily about momentariness and concerns non-existent objects only indirectly, Udayana, unlike his Buddhist opponent, is able to offer a coherent and successful position.