Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Emily McRae, professor of philosophy at the University of New Mexico, offers an overview of Buddhist philosophy. In particular, we discuss the different traditions within Buddhism - Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, and Zen - the doctrine of emptiness, the Four Noble Truths, and the ontology of Nirvana: annihilation, eternal bliss, or a state of mind in the here and now?
This interview is also available as a podcast:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/85-does-buddhism-teach-annihilation-and-other/id1776277450?i=1000783185159
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4WpkIlsF4m8hXLZn16SXLD?si=a509f022423948c6
Substack: mileskdonahue.substack.com/p/85-does-buddhism-teach-annihilation?r=1pf1v9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Check out my Substack where you can get a paid membership because you're awesome: mileskdonahue.substack.com
To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/mileskdonahue.
Follow me on X: twitter.com/PhilosopherMKD
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:55 Moral ignorance in Buddhist philosophy
00:06:47 What drew Emily to Buddhist philosophy?
00:10:36 Analytic philosophy vs. Buddhist philosophy
00:13:41 What kind of ethical theory is Buddhism?
00:21:26 Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
00:24:37 The major schools of Buddhism
00:29:56 Emptiness and the Buddhist theory of the self
00:37:47 Why the Buddha refused to answer some questions
00:43:02 The Four Noble Truths
00:46:01 The first Noble Truth: suffering
00:51:04 The second Noble Truth: the causes of suffering
00:53:43 The third Noble Truth: the end of suffering
00:56:10 What is nirvana?
01:00:14 Does Buddhism ultimately teach annihilation?
01:07:15 Buddhism vs. Christianity on desire
01:12:18 The fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path
01:16:16 What reason is there to believe Buddhism is true?
Emily McRae, professor of philosophy at the University of New Mexico, offers an overview of Buddhist philosophy. In particular, we discuss the different traditions within Buddhism - Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, and Zen - the doctrine of emptiness, the Four Noble Truths, and the ontology of Nirvana: annihilation, eternal bliss, or a state of mind in the here and now?
This interview is also available as a podcast:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/85-does-buddhism-teach-annihilation-and-other/id1776277450?i=1000783185159
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4WpkIlsF4m8hXLZn16SXLD?si=a509f022423948c6
Substack: mileskdonahue.substack.com/p/85-does-buddhism-teach-annihilation?r=1pf1v9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Check out my Substack where you can get a paid membership because you're awesome: mileskdonahue.substack.com
To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/mileskdonahue.
Follow me on X: twitter.com/PhilosopherMKD
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:55 Moral ignorance in Buddhist philosophy
00:06:47 What drew Emily to Buddhist philosophy?
00:10:36 Analytic philosophy vs. Buddhist philosophy
00:13:41 What kind of ethical theory is Buddhism?
00:21:26 Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
00:24:37 The major schools of Buddhism
00:29:56 Emptiness and the Buddhist theory of the self
00:37:47 Why the Buddha refused to answer some questions
00:43:02 The Four Noble Truths
00:46:01 The first Noble Truth: suffering
00:51:04 The second Noble Truth: the causes of suffering
00:53:43 The third Noble Truth: the end of suffering
00:56:10 What is nirvana?
01:00:14 Does Buddhism ultimately teach annihilation?
01:07:15 Buddhism vs. Christianity on desire
01:12:18 The fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path
01:16:16 What reason is there to believe Buddhism is true?
