Abhidharma Metaphysics and the Two Truths

Critically examined here are three conceptions of the distinction between conventional truth and ultimate truth as it appears in Abhidharma, each of which has advocates in the secondary literature on Abhidharma. The first conception is that conventional truths are those that are consistent with common sense and lead to successful practice. The second conception is that conventional truths are those truths that contain convenient designators. The third conception, which I defend, understands conventional and ultimate truth in terms of conventional and ultimate existence.