▸ HEAD-TO-HEAD

DHARMAKIRTI VS DIGNAGA

Dharmakirti
~600–660
At the edge of what language can hold.
Dignaga
~480–540
At the edge of what language can hold.

▸ WHERE THEY SHARPLY DISAGREED

The three dimensions on which Dharmakirti and Dignaga are farthest apart on Mull's 0–10 scale.

  • Trust in ReasonΔ 1 / 10
    Dharmakirti: 9/10
    Dignaga: 8/10

    somewhat (1/10): Dharmakirti trusts reasoned argument more strongly than Dignaga does.

  • Trust in ExperienceΔ 1 / 10
    Dharmakirti: 8/10
    Dignaga: 7/10

    somewhat (1/10): Dharmakirti grounds knowing in lived experience; Dignaga weights other sources of evidence more.

  • Skeptical ReflexΔ 1 / 10
    Dharmakirti: 8/10
    Dignaga: 7/10

    somewhat (1/10): Dharmakirti holds doubt and suspended judgment as a discipline; Dignaga is more willing to commit.

▸ WHERE THEY OVERLAPPED

Where the gap is smallest — both with meaningful presence on the dimension (not "neither cared").

  • Universalist Impulsegap 0 / 10
    Dharmakirti: 8/10
    Dignaga: 8/10

    Both lean strongly into universalist impulse.

  • Ascetic Tendencygap 0 / 10
    Dharmakirti: 7/10
    Dignaga: 7/10

    Both lean strongly into ascetic tendency.

  • Theoretical Drivegap 0 / 10
    Dharmakirti: 8/10
    Dignaga: 8/10

    Both lean strongly into theoretical drive.

▸ ALL 16 DIMENSIONS

The full vector comparison. Bars show their 0–10 scores side-by-side.

  • Ascetic TendencyΔ 0
  • Communal EmbeddednessΔ 0
  • Embodied SensibilityΔ 0
  • Mystical ReceptivityΔ 0
  • Practical OrientationΔ 0
  • Reverence for TraditionΔ 0
  • Self as IllusionΔ 1
  • Skeptical ReflexΔ 1
  • Sovereign SelfΔ 0
  • Theoretical DriveΔ 0
  • Trust in ExperienceΔ 1
  • Trust in ReasonΔ 1
  • Tragic VisionΔ 0
  • Universalist ImpulseΔ 0
  • Vital AffirmationΔ 0
  • Will to PowerΔ 0
DHARMAKIRTIDIGNAGA
What to do next

Where do you sit between Dharmakirti and Dignaga?

  1. 01 · QUIZ
    The Inheritor
    Take the quiz — see which of them you sit closer to on the map.
    CONTINUE ▶
  2. 02 · PROFILE
    Vasubandhu
    A third thinker who sits between them — useful for triangulating.
    CONTINUE ▶
  3. 03 · ARENA
    Argue Dharmakirti
    Face Dharmakirti in a 5-minute single-turn debate, judged on rigor.
    CONTINUE ▶