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La scelta di essere feliciIn Fontanini Luca & Sozio Emanuela (eds.), Orizzonti di cura. Un viaggio tra salute, medicina e filosofia, Forum. pp. 37-46. 2024.Riflessione sulla felicità come esito dialettico della dinamica concettuale tra pieno e vuoto.
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114The oblation abuser will have the fate of the thirsty buffalo: A brief note on Ṛgveda 10.28.10cd-11abKervan 27 (1): 445-453. 2023.The primary aim of this article is to provide a case study of textual hermeneutics in the context of Vedic literature. It will be shown how some interpretative pitfalls, into which contemporary translators have fallen, can be avoided if we broaden the perspective beyond the semantics of words and apply a principle of plausibility. The case study concerns the analysis of Ṛgveda 10.28, with special reference to the wildlife episodes depicted in verses 10cd-11ab. A few modern translations in Wester…Read more
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16Bhāviveka and Avalokitavrata on the Two So-Called Non-cause Theories (ahetuvāda) of the LokāyatikasIndo-Iranian Journal 66 (1). 2023.The article discusses Bhāviveka’s Prajñāpradīpavṛtti and Avalokitavrata’s Prajñāpradīpaṭīkā commentaries on the “not without a cause” (nāpy ahetutaḥ) alternative of Nāgārjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā 1.1ab, from which it emerges that at least two distinct theories of causality can be attributed to the Lokāyata school. The first one is a physicalist theory that confines all causal relations within the sphere of material elements and is assimilated to accidentalism. The second one is a naturalist th…Read more
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Where Do Those Beautiful Ladies and Wolf’s Footprints Lead Us? The Mādhyamikas on Two Cārvāka/Lokāyata Stanzas [Part 3 of 3]Annali Sezione Orientale 81. 2021.This is the third and final part of a study focused on the Madhyamaka accounts of the Cārvāka/Lokāyata so-called “wolf’s footprint” stanza and tale, and “beautiful lady” stanza. In particular, this paper discusses Jayānanda’s short account of the tale and the stanzas contained in his Madhyamakāvatāraṭīkā on Candrakīrti’s Madhyamakāvatārabhāṣya. The Tibetan edition and English translation of Jayānanda’s relevant passages are also provided.
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Where Do Those Beautiful Ladies and Wolf's Footprints Lead Us? The Mādhyamikas on Two Cārvāka/Lokāyata Stanzas [Part 1 of 3]Annali Sezione Orientale 79 205-235. 2019.With the present study an analysis in three parts is provided of the Buddhist reception of two Cārvāka/Lokāyata stanzas, abbreviated as "wolf's footprint" and the "beautiful lady". These stanzas seem to be conceptually related to each other, having the common aim to emphasize the idea that one should rely only upon what is or can be perceived. Consequently, from here it is concluded that any perspective concerning the existence of an afterlife or of a moral retribution of our actions, since thes…Read more
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20Where Do Those Beautiful Ladies and Wolf’s Footprints Lead Us? The Mādhyamikas on Two Cārvāka/Lokāyata Stanzas [Part 2 of 3]Annali Sezione Orientale 80. 2020.This is the second part of a three-part study dealing with the Madhyamaka accounts of, and commentaries on, the Cārvāka/Lokāyata so-called “wolf’s footprint” stanza and tale, and “beautiful lady” stanza. Here Avalokitavrata’s discussion of the tale and the stanzas is dealt with, together with the Tibetan edition and English translation of the corresponding passage from his Prajñāpradīpaṭīkā.
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375“Now You Are Able To Abolish the Retention of Wrong Views:” How To Teach a Buddhist Novice To Fight Objections (Madhyamakaratnapradĩpa, Ch. 5)Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 42 83-168. 2019.This article presents the first annotated English translation and edition of the Tibetan text of the Madhyamakaratnapradīpa, chapter 5, whose original Sanskrit is to be considered lost. The Introduction contains a primary analysis of contents and aims of the chapter, together with general observations on the epoch and compositional style of the Madhyamakaratnapradīpa. It is suggested that the text is probably a 10 th century explanatory handbook of Bhāviveka’s Tarkajvālā for beginner students. C…Read more
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288Il movimento del concetto: azione marziale, competizione e sacrificio nell'India anticaIn Marcello Ghilardi (ed.), Filosofia delle arti marziali, Mimesis. pp. 47-71. 2020.Krishna Del Toso offre una penetrante analisi della cultura indiana sotto la particolare prospettiva della pratica marziale e della dimensione agonistica, riconducendole alla grande matrice di senso che è l’azione sacrificale sullo sfondo del grande testo classico Ṛgveda.
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4Un falso d'autore: il caso de «La soppressione degli errori sul Madhyamaka»: opera attribuita ad ĀryadevaEsercizi Filosofici 5 (2): 78-101. 2010.Introduzione, edizione del testo tibetano e traduzione del Madhyamakabhramaghāta, opera attribuita ad Āryadeva.
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5Il Madhyamakārthasamgraha di Bhāviveka: introduzione, edizione del testo tibetano e traduzione annotataEsercizi Filosofici 6 (2): 347-365. 2011.Introduzione, edizione del testo tibetano e traduzione annotata del Madhyamakārthasamgraha attribuito a Bhāviveka.
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9La «circolarità» nell’atto percettivo secondo la psicologia del buddhismo anticoEsercizi Filosofici 2 (2): 211-221. 2007.Analisi di un aspetto di "circolarità" delle funzioni implicate nella teoria psicologica del buddhismo antico.
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21Philosophy for Business IdeasAmazon. 2018.In this book the reader will find a tool-set of suggestions and thoughts, specifically selected for stimulating and enhancing a strategic approach to the early stage of assessment, validation and development of a business idea. This book doesn’t provide definitive solutions, nor a recipe for success, since definitive solutions and recipes for success (if they really exist) hardly can depend on reading a book. Rather, by taking inspiration from different philosophies and philosophers, each chapte…Read more
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118The Stanzas on the Cārvāka/Lokāyata in the SkhalitapramathanayuktihetusiddhiJournal of Indian Philosophy 38 (6): 543-552. 2010.In Āryadevapāda’s Skhalitapramathanayuktihetusiddhi we find a problematic passage in which some Cārvāka theories are expounded. The problem here lies in the fact that, according to Āryadevapāda, the Cārvākas—who did not admit rebirth—would have upheld that happiness in this life can be gained by worshipping gods and defeating demons. As the Cārvākas were materialists, the reference to gods and demons does not fit so much with their philosophical perspective. In this paper, by taking into account…Read more
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737Is cognition an attribute of the self or it rather belongs to the body? Some dialectical considerations on Udbhaṭabhaṭṭa’s position against Nyāya and VaiśeṣikaOpen Journal of Philosophy 1 (2): 48. 2011.In this article an attempt is made to detect what could have been the dialectical reasons that impelled the Cār-vāka thinker Udbhatabhatta to revise and reformulate the classical materialistic concept of cognition. If indeed according to ancient Cārvākas cognition is an attribute entirely dependent on the physical body, for Udbhatabhatta cognition is an independent principle that, of course, needs the presence of a human body to manifest itself and for this very reason it is said to be a peculia…Read more
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411A sketch on nāgārjuna's perspectives on "relation"Kriterion: Journal of Philosophy 57 (133): 153-176. 2016.ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to provide a sketch on the way Nāgārjuna deals with the idea of 'relation'. The concept of 'relation' as expressed in the Pāli sources is here theoretically systematized according to three patterns: 1. logical, 2. strictly subordinative existential, 3. non-strictly subordinative existential. After having discussed Nāgārjuna's acceptance and treatment of these three patterns, particular attention is paid to the non-strictly subordinative existential relation. Thi…Read more
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598Tebhyaś caitanyaṃ: il “sé” secondo il Materialismo indianoIn Alessandra Cislaghi & Krishna Del Toso (eds.), Intrecci filosofici. Pensare il sé a Oriente e a Occidente, Ed. Mimesis. 2012.Ciò che qui chiamo Materialismo indiano non deve intendersi come scuola filosofica unica ed univocamente impostata, bensì come insieme di correnti di pensiero, propugnanti differenti punti di vista, ma tutte collocate entro l’orizzonte concettuale che nega ciò che in Occidente si usa chiamare Trascendente. Inoltre, com’è ovvio, bisogna distinguere tra un Materialismo filosofico – che prenderò in considerazione qui – ed un Materialismo, per così dire, popolare – al quale mi riferirò solo se neces…Read more
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306Perché guardare a Oriente? Prospettive, risorse e visioni di un mondo non più lontano (edited book)Tipheret Editore. 2013.ATTI DEL IV «SEMINARIO POPOLARE SUL PENSIERO DELL'ESTREMO ORIENTE», TERMINI IMERESE (5-6 MAGGIO 2012)
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598book review: Sylvain Lévi, "La dottrina del sacrificio nei Brāhmaṇa. Con tre saggi di Roberto Calasso, Charles Malamoud e Louis Renou", traduzione di Silvia D’Intino. Adelphi, Milano 2009, 224 pp.
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63The Function of saññā in the Perceptual Process According to the Sutta-piṭaka: An AssessmentPhilosophy East and West 65 (3): 690-716. 2015.This article deals with the meaning and function of saññā in perception according to the Suttapiṭaka. As regards its meaning, the discussion stresses the fact that the renderings “perception” and “apperception” seem to overinterpret the actual function/activity of saññā. Also the translations “idea” and “ideation” should be used cautiously, in order to avoid misunderstandings, since these terms are fraught with very specific philosophical and psychological implications in the Western context. Mo…Read more
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271Intrecci filosofici. Pensare il sé a Oriente e a Occidente (edited book)Mimesis. 2012.ATTI DEL CONVEGNO DI FILOSOFIA «IL SÉ – TRA ORIENTE E OCCIDENTE», TRIESTE (11-12 GENNAIO 2010)
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15Some Problems Concerning Textual Reuses in the Madhyamakaratnapradīpa, with a Discussion of the Quotation from Saraha’s DohākośagītiJournal of Indian Philosophy 43 (4-5): 511-557. 2015.The aim of the present study is to shed light on why the citation taken from Saraha’s Dohākośagīti and occurring in the Madhyamakaratnapradīpa, chapter 7, opens the door to some fundamental reflections concerning the authority and the “nature” of this latter text. On the basis of a historical and doctrinal analysis, here a new interpretation is put forward, according to which the Madhyamakaratnapradīpa should be considered a tenth century CE handbook, written by some unknown Buddhist teacher per…Read more
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48Il Madhyamakārthasaṃgraha di Bhāviveka: introduzione, edizione del testo tibetano e traduzione annotataEsercizi Filosofici 6 (2): 369-387. 2011.Edition of the Tibetan text of the Madhyamakārthasaṃgraha attributed to Bhāviveka (based on the Co-ne, sDe-dge, dGa’-ldan and sNar-thaṅ versions), along with an Italian translation and an introductory philosophical study.
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333Tutto in questa vita: considerazioni sull’etica e la morale dei Cārvāka/LokāyataIn Krishna Del Toso & Pietro Piro (eds.), Perché guardare a Oriente? Prospettive, risorse e visioni di un mondo non più lontano, Tipheret Editore. pp. 117-133. 2013.In questo saggio sono espresse alcune riflessioni concernenti l’orizzonte etico-morale proprio della scuola di materialismo indiana nota con il nome di Cārvāka/Lokāyata. La discussione si sviluppa secondo i seguenti punti: 1. Gli assunti ontologico-psicologici; 2. Gli assunti epistemologici; 3. L’etica e la morale; 4. Conclusioni.
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768SLob dpon gyis bśad pa: Explanation by the Master The Teachings on Meditation of an Unknown Byaṅ-cub-klu-dbaṅAnnali di Ca’ Foscari. Serie Orientale 52 99-144. 2016.In the Dunhuang manuscript IOL Tib J 709, which is a collection of writings concerning meditation, we come across a short text attributed to a Tibetan master called Byaṅ-cub-klu-dbaṅ (allegedly eighth-ninth centuries CE). In his work, Byaṅ-cub-klu-dbaṅ exposes a method of meditation that seems to be strongly indebted to Indian Mahāyāna scriptural sources. Besides, also a Chinese Chan influence is here detectable. Therefore, the method of meditation taught by Byaṅ-cub-klu-dbaṅ seems to represent …Read more
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1119Abstract: This article shows how in the Pāli Nikāyas, after having defined Eternalism and Nihilism as two opposed positions, Gotama makes a dialectical use of Eternalism as means to eliminate Nihilism, upheld to be the worst point of view because of its denial of kammic maturation in terms of puñña and pāpa. Assuming, from an Eternalist perspective, that actions have effects also beyond the present life, Gotama underlines the necessity of betting on the validity of moral kammic retribution. Havi…Read more
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513Kārya and kāraṇa in Nāgārjuna’s MūlamadhyamakakārikāsAION 67 137-156. 2007.In this paper, Nāgārjuna’s philosophical interpretation of the terms kāraṇa and kārya is analysed after having methodologically confined the specific field of interest to the MMK. From the study of all the occurrences of kāraṇa and kārya in the MMK (listed in paragraph 2), it emerges that Nāgārjuna makes use of these two terms to refer to skandhas as causes (kāraṇa) of further skandhas as effects (kārya), hence conveying with this words the idea of, so to speak, subjectivity and (re)birth. From …Read more
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1433An interview with Ramkrishna Bhattacharya on Cārvāka/Lokāyata philosophy
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736Book Review: Ramkrishna Bhattacharya, Studies on the Carvaka/Lokayata, Società Editrice Fiorentina, Firenze 2009, € 28,00; Indian edition: Manohar Publishers, New Delhi 2010, Rs. 750. (review)Psyche and Society 8 (2): 81-84. 2010.
Areas of Specialization
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Philosophy of Religion |
Asian Philosophy |
Theravada Buddhist Philosophy |
Mahayana Buddhist Philosophy |
Buddhist Logic |
Carvaka Philosophy |
Tibetan Philosophy |