Hey, Buddha! Don’t Think! Just Act!—A Response to Bronwyn Finnigan
Philosophy East and West January 1, 2011 Jay L. Garfield 13 citations
In a philosophical exchange, Jay L. Garfield responds to Bronwyn Finnigan's critique of his earlier proposal on how a Buddhist can conceptualize a buddha's enlightened action. Garfield clarifies that his original focus was on a buddha's thought after enlightenment, not action, and that he argued Chinese Buddhism, influenced by Yogācārin and Daoist ideas, offers resources for a non-representational theory of mind that Indian Buddhism lacked. He contends that Finnigan's Davidsonic account of action—requiring action for reasons, explanation by reasons, and intentional representation—is not compatible with Buddhist philosophy and begs the question. Garfield maintains that his own proposal remains viable within a Buddhist framework.