Buddhist Metaphysics, No-Self, and Meditation
Selfhood, consciousness, and contemplative evidence
The Buddhist tradition contains distinct claims about the self, suffering, consciousness, and reality. Evaluating them separately reveals where contemplative evidence is strongest—and where it is limited.
The argument
The paper distinguishes improved access to experience from special access to metaphysical truth. It compares interpretations of no-self and emptiness, considers rival naturalistic accounts, and examines claims about liberation and rebirth.
How to read this assessment
This is a targeted review with subjective assessments, not a systematic review or one probability that “Buddhism is true.” Different Buddhist schools and different propositions require separate treatment.
A question worth pursuing
When does an insight into experience support a claim about the world beyond experience?
Cite and share
This page provides an editorial introduction. Consult the paper for its complete evidence, assumptions, sources, and collaboration disclosures. Downloads preserve the edition retrieved on October 18, 2026.