nonself

Nonself, also known as anatta in Pali and anatman in Sanskrit, is a central Buddhist doctrine asserting that there is no inherently existing, permanent essence or self within a being. The sense of a fixed self arises from the aggregation of physical form, sensations, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.

In traditional Buddhist teaching, identification with a fixed self is considered a cause of dukkha (suffering). The framework of dependent origination explains phenomena as arising through interdependent conditions rather than from an autonomous core. Nonself is thus linked to the broader middle way between essentialism and nihilism.

Interpretations vary. Theravada Buddhism typically discusses the five skandhas as the components of self and teaches realizing nonself through insight meditation. Mahayana traditions, including Nagarjuna’s Madhyamaka, emphasize emptiness (sunyata) and non-self as part of the interdependent and empty nature of all phenomena. Some schools also discuss the nonexistence of a lasting soul while maintaining continuity of personal experience.

The doctrine influences practice and ethics, encouraging detachment from ego-centered goals, reducing attachment, and fostering compassion. In modern contexts, nonself is discussed in relation to psychology, cognitive science, and discussions of personal identity, though it is primarily a religious-philosophical concept in Buddhist thought.

The topic has generated debate in both religious and secular philosophy, including questions about moral responsibility, identity over time, and the interpretation of consciousness. Across traditions, nonself is presented as a methodological tool for understanding the nature of experience rather than as an assertion about all things existing.