Description: It is widely known that Buddhists deny the existence of the self. However, Buddhist philosophers defend interesting positions on a variety of other issues of fundamental ontology. In particular, they have important things to say about ontological reduction, and about the nature of the causal relation. Amidst the prolonged debate over global anti-realism, Buddhist philosophers devised an innovative approach to the radical nominalist denial of all universals and real resemblances. While some defend presentism, others propound eternalism. In How Things Are, Mark Siderits presents the arguments that Buddhist philosophers developed on these and other issues.
Review Quotes: "This book provides a multidimensional interpretation of the metaphysical teachings put forth by different schools of Indian Buddhism. It will not only be greatly appreciated by scholars of Indian Buddhist studies, but it also makes an important contribution to the study of metaphysical theories in general." -- Yufei Han, Central China Normal University, Religious Studies Review
"How Things Are is a tour de force of Buddhist metaphysics from an analytic philosopher so steeped in both traditions so as to be able to present Buddhist metaphysics' dialectical progressions and interrelationships in Western analytic terms at both the fine-grained level of analysis and the "big picture" level on the many ways these arguments stack up against each other and contemporary Western philosophical puzzles." -- Rick Repetti, City University of New York, Philosophy East and West"This book provides a multidimensional interpretation of the metaphysical teachings put forth by different schools of Indian Buddhism. It will not only be greatly appreciated by scholars of Indian Buddhist studies, but it also makes an important contribution to the study of metaphysical theories in general." -- Religious Studies Review