Does Nagarjuna's Philosophy Make the Moral Dimension Of Our Life Irrelevant?

Abstract

[Abstract: The realist philosophers, both Buddhists and non-Buddhists, raise an objection against Madhyamaka philosophy. They argue that by denying the intrinsic nature of things Nāgārjuna obliterates the intrinsic distinction between good and bad and thus makes our moral life literally meaningless. Sthaviravādῑ Buddhists went a step forward to call Nāgārjuna a pāpῑ bhikṣu, a sinner monk who makes the demand of morality irrelevant. My purpose in this paper is to examine the question: Should Nāgārjuna be accused of this charge?]