Does Reality Have a Ground? Buddhist Emptiness & Philosophy
Phillip Jones and Grant Potts explore whether reality has a foundation in this honest Phil Phails discussion on Madhyamaka Buddhism, emptiness, and the two truths. Reflections on impermanence, identity, and showing up anyway.
Does reality have a ground? That question hit different as Grant Potts and I wrestled with Jan Westerhoff’s chapter on Madhyamaka Buddhism and Western metaphysics. I came in thinking we’d find some solid bottom layer. We left with more questions—and somehow that felt like progress.
This was our third big question in Philosophy’s Big Questions: Comparing Buddhist and Western Approaches. We laughed through pronunciation struggles, unpacked the chariot analogy, and ended up talking about life, impermanence, and what it means to connect with people.
The Middle Way: No Ultimate Foundation
Madhyamaka (the Middle Way) argues there is no independent, inherent ground to reality. Everything depends on everything else—empty of its own separate existence (sunyata).
Using the classic chariot example: Is the chariot the wheels, the parts, the whole assembly, or something else? Break it down far enough and you hit infinite regress (“turtles all the way down”). There’s no final solid brick everything rests on.
We compared this to Western non-foundationalism and ideas in math and physics where patterns and relationships matter more than isolated substances.
Conventional Truth vs Ultimate Truth
The two truths doctrine became a key insight.
- Conventional truth: The everyday world where chariots, people, and relationships exist and function. We live here, eat breakfast, hug friends.
- Ultimate truth: Everything lacks inherent existence. It’s all interdependent and impermanent.
You don’t deny the conventional world—you navigate it wisely while understanding its empty nature. That tension is where freedom lives.
My Personal Reflection
This chapter challenged me. I’ve been thinking a lot about identity and impermanence lately. If there’s no solid “Phil” with an unchanging core, what does that mean for my relationships, my fears around intimacy, and my desire to build something meaningful?
It’s scary to admit that deep connection might end. But recognizing impermanence makes the present moment richer. Grant’s grounded presence—professor, gardener, dad, friend—reminded me that philosophy isn’t about escaping life. It’s about showing up more fully in it, even when awkward or uncertain.
We joked about awkward hugs and Austin life, but underneath was real talk about family, courage, and what we’re building with these conversations.
Practical Takeaways
- Notice interdependence — When something feels solid (your identity, a problem, a relationship), look at the conditions and parts that make it appear that way.
- Hold conventional and ultimate lightly — Live practically in the everyday world while remembering nothing lasts forever—this reduces clinging and fear.
- Practice with small things — Rearrange your space, try a new perspective, or sit in a different seat. Small shifts train your mind not to get stuck.
- Build real community — Deep conversations and friendships help us check our blind spots and stay grounded.
- Fail forward with big questions — You don’t need to master the text or have perfect answers. Showing up and wrestling honestly is the practice.
- Anchor in respect and compassion — Treat people (and yourself) as full human beings, not just roles or stories.
Final Thoughts
Philosophy keeps showing me that the ground I’m looking for might not exist in the way I expect—and that’s okay. The questions themselves, and the people we ask them with, become part of the path.
About Grant Potts
Grant Potts is a distinguished faculty member at Austin Community College, specializing in Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities. Trained primarily as a scholar of religion, Grant is also a dedicated philosopher and curriculum developer, committed to promoting liberal education through the Great Question Foundation to benefit community college students of all disciplines. Outside the academic sphere, he is a passionate gardener, an enthusiastic hiker and cyclist, and an ardent tabletop roleplaying game enthusiast.