This paper aims to explore the debate of deism between Aryadeva, on the one hand, and Samkhya and Vaisesika, on the other, in Aryadeva’s, Satasastra. Aryadeva’s criticisms against Samkhya and idea of “Purusa” are discussed, so that his reason for going over the antinomy of anatman and in favor of the superior idea of anatman in Madhyamaka become clear. The whole essay is divided into three parts: 1. Introduction: introducing three important questions generally discussed in the studies of Self: the existence of Self, the substance of Self, and the cognition of Self. 2. Main body: discussing how raises objections to the concept of Self in deistic works. It begins with a brief introduction to Satasastra Aryadeva, goes on with a detailed analysis of Aryadeva’s views in the debate, especially the views presented in the first chapter of Satasastra, “On leaving sin and fortune” and comes to an end with Aryadeva’s explanation of how to account for all phenomena by virtue of ‘bodhi , knowing, and cetas. 3. Conclusion: evaluating the importance of Aryadeva’s argument. It is suggested that the concept of in all phenomena originally came to birth as a useful weapon against the concept of Self in deistic works.
