Doctoral defence: Andres Herkel “Nāgārjunas Mūlamadhyamakakārikā: Translation and interpretation”

On 30 August at 10:00 Andres Herkel will defend his doctoral thesis “Nāgārjunas Mūlamadhyamakakārikā: Translation and interpretation” for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Comparative Literature).

Supervisors:
Research Fellow Märt Läänemets, Estonian Academy of Security Sciences
Professor Ülo Valk, University of Tartu

Opponents:
Research Fellow Margus Ott, University of Tallinn
Research Fellow Indrek Peedu, University of Tartu

Summary
The doctoral thesis deals with Root Stanzas of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, MMK), the most important writing for the śūnyavāda school by Buddhist philosopher Nāgārjuna (ca 150–250). The thesis consists of the Estonian translation of the MMK with commentaries, an introduction and nine articles. The articles deal with the key concepts of Buddhism as they appear in the MMK, and their investigation, as well as methodological questions relating to Buddhist Studies. The history of the translation and interpretation of MMK is dependent on changes in the currents of thought in Western philosophy. This has ensured a continuous process of interpretation, including the mainstream currents of thought in the 20th century including deconstruction, the understanding of unlimited semiosis, and linguistic philosophy as the best-known. MMK is a text that generates other texts. This means that a constant increase in interpretation and comment is part of the pragmatics of these texts, as confirmed by the vast field of modern nāgārjuniana. Nāgārjuna is a Buddhist philosopher whose teaching is method rather than theory. Hence the importance of semiotics as a method, as well as phenomenology of religion as the framework for the experience of liberation and transformation of consciousness. In MMK different concepts and assertions are used as mechanisms of defence against negative or nihilist interpretation. The zero way or the logic of the absurd does not mean ethical relativism. The most important mechanisms for defence are anavasthā, a warning against an endless series (also called infinite regression); avipranāśa (the unperishable), a mechanism for the transmission of karma; prapañca, flourishing but misleading conceptualisation; distinction between conventional and ultimate truth; avoiding moral relativism. Highlighting the mechanisms of defence against nihilism would be the most innovative contribution to the vast research area of nāgārjuniana.