A Critical Comparison between Nāma-Rūpa and Cartesian Dualism: Theravāda Buddhist Anattā as a Critique of Descartes’ Cogito Ergo Sum

Galuh Nur Fattah; Tri Saputra Medhacitto; Gonalagoda Nanda

doi:10.53396/media.v5i2.409

Authors

Galuh Nur Fattah Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta
Tri Saputra Medhacitto Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand
Gonalagoda Nanda Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53396/media.v5i2.409

Keywords:

Anattā, Cartesian Dualism, Cogito Ergo Sum, Nāma-Rūpa, Theravāda.

Abstract

This research article aims to present a critical study on the comparison between the concepts of nāma-rūpa and Cartesian dualism. Nāma-rūpa is a human metaphysical and epistemological concept in Theravāda Buddhism that divides the human self into non-material (nāma) and material (rūpa) aspects. Cartesian dualism, on the other hand, is a human metaphysical concept proposed by René Descartes that also separates the aspects of human self-formation into non-material (res cogitans) and material (res extensa) components. This research article was conducted using the critical comparison method. Despite the same dualistic perspective, this study found that there are significant differences between these two metaphysical concepts. In the context of nāma-rūpa, it is found that the material and non-material aspects of human substance are in a constant state of change due to the influence of Tiḷakkhaṇa (Three Universal Characteristics or Laws) in Theravāda Buddhism. These characteristics or laws encompass Aniccā (Impermanence), Dukkhā (Suffering), and Anattā (Not Self). Therefore, it is impossible to locate the "I" or "self" as understood in Cartesian dualism, which posits the cogito (the "I who thinks") as something that truly exists.

Author Biographies

Galuh Nur Fattah, Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta

Lahir di Kendari pada 6 Desember 1993. Pada tahun 2024 ia menyelesaikan Program Magister Filsafat di Fakultas Filsafat Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta. Sejak tahun 2022 sampai sekarang ia bekerja sebagai asisten peneliti di Fakultas Filsafat Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta dan sejak Agustus 2024 juga menjadi Asisten Professor pada bidang studi Buddhisme dan filsafat Buddha (Buddhist Studies and Philosophy) pada institusi yang sama.

Tri Saputra Medhacitto, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand

Lahir di Semarang, 10 Oktober 1996. Saat ini beliau sebagai Mahasiswa S3, IBSC, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (2024). Pekerjaan sekarang adalah sebagai anggota Sangha Theravada Indonesia (Bhikkhu), dan Dosen Sekolah Tinggi Agama Buddha Syailendra.

Gonalagoda Nanda, Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

Lahir di Galle mahamodara pada 11 Juni 1994. Ia menyelesaikan Program Bachelor of Art di University of Peradeniya (2018), dan Master of Philosophy di University of Peradeniya (2022. Sejak 2019, ia bekerja sebagai Dosen Filsafat di Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka, dan sekaligus sebagai Kandidat Ph.D di Anhui University.

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