Nishitani Keiji and the śūnyatā discourse

Nishitani Keiji e o discurso do śūnyatā

Autores

  • Carlos Barbosa Universidad Pedagógica Nacional

Resumo

To what extent is Nishitani Keiji’s thought compatible with Mahāyāna’s śūnyatā/emptiness? Some critics may raise doubts in this regard because Nishitani would allegedly be turning śūnyatā into a metaphysical principle, something Nāgārjuna warned against (MMK 13.9). However, it is possible to argue to the contrary. From an analysis of Nishitani’s three-field topology (fields of consciousness, nihility, and śūnyatā) and his use of the soku-hi logic, it is possible to interpret that rather than turning emptiness into a metaphysical principle, he articulates a discourse of śūnyatā whose function is to expose the limits of human thought and language. This way, it
would be possible to recover our true contact with things just as they are and with ourselves. In this sense, I believe, Nishitani would actually be in line with Nāgārjuna’s intent.

Keywords: śūnyatā/emptiness; Nāgārjuna; Nishitani Keiji; three-field topology.

Biografia do Autor

  • Carlos Barbosa, Universidad Pedagógica Nacional

    Professor do Departamento de Ciências Sociais da Universidad Pedagógica Nacional – Orcid: https://
    orcid.org/0000-0003-2934-7262 - Email: carlos.barbosa@gmail.com

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Publicado

2026-09-19

Como Citar

Nishitani Keiji and the śūnyatā discourse: Nishitani Keiji e o discurso do śūnyatā. (2026). Modernos & Contemporâneos - International Journal of Philosophy [issn 2595-1211], 10(23), 140-153. https://ojs.ifch.unicamp.br/index.php/modernoscontemporaneos/article/view/5590