The Cognitive Method of Dematerialization and the Theoretical Significance of Madhyamaka Philosophy —— Centered on the Concept of Emptiness in Nagarjuna's

——以龙树《中论》的空性思想为中心

Abstract

Critical reflection on substance, essence, and absolute truth has become a persistent concern in modern theoretical discourse. Nāgārjuna’s doctrine of emptiness, articulated in the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, has often been interpreted as a metaphysical proposition within Buddhist philosophy or as a doctrinal foundation for religious practice. This article argues that emptiness can be more fruitfully understood as a de-essentializing cognitive method. By examining the argumentative structure of the Eightfold Negation, it demonstrates how Madhyamaka philosophy operates through the systematic dismantling of binary oppositions and essentialist assumptions, thereby sustaining an open and reflexive mode of cognition. This methodological reading highlights the broader theoretical significance of Madhyamaka thought beyond its religious context.