On the Ontology of Composites in Abhidharma Buddhism

Journal article

Abhidharma Buddhism maintains that the only ultimately real (paramārtha) entities in the universe are dharmas, which are simples. What then is the ontological status of composites on this theory? One possibility is that Abhidharma Buddhists deny the reality of composites. We argue, however, that Abhidharma Buddhists affirm the reality of some composites, based on the causal efficacy of the composites. This depends on distinguishing between two notions of reality—ultimate reality (paramārtha) and substantial reality (dravyasat). If an entity is causally efficacious, it counts as substantially real. Abhidharma Buddhists affirm the substantial reality of material composites (like the eye); in this case, the causal powers of the composite are of the same type of the causal powers of the constituent dharmas. Abhidharma Buddhists also affirm the substantial reality of mental composites (like sensory episodes), which are composed of diverse kinds of dharmas. We argue that in the latter case Abhidharma Buddhists are committed to some form of emergentism.

Authors: Chadha, M; Nichols, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
• Article number: e70109
• Publication date: 2026-04-06
• Acceptance date: 2026-03-21
• DOI: 10.1111/phpr.70109
• EISSN: 1933-1592
• ISSN: 0031-8205
• Language: English