Parmenides and Nāgārjuna: A Buddhist Interpretation of Ancient Greek Philosophy

Abstract

This article compares some principal components of the philosophical thoughtof the fifth century B.C.E. Greek philosopher Parmenides and the second century C.E. Indian philosopher Nāgārjuna. It argues that there are strong parallels between these two philosophers and the schools associated with them. It suggests a European line of philosophy which independently supports some of the principal insights of Buddhist thought, and which was developed contemporaneously with Buddhism.