Hindu Philosophies
JONATHAN EDELMANN
University of Florida
Outline
1. Debates in the 20th century: What is philosophy in a
Hindu context? Isnt philosophy just philosophy?
2. The dierences between philosophy and theology in the
Hindu context.
3. The original stra literature.
4. Contemporary developments.
Philosophy in India?
The Indian philosopher Bimal Krishna
Matilal (1935-1991) noted many
Western philosophers believe India
had no philosophy, that it was a
distinctly Greek and European
creation
He sought to combat this idea and in
doing so inspired many others
While Indian philosophy is still largely
ignored by Western philosophers, few
would doubt its existence
Hindu philosophy and theology
Others like John Carman, Francis Clooney SJ, and Jonathan
Edelmann (thats me) have argued that Hinduism and India had
philosophy and theology. Theology is:
a systematic, rational, and philological interpretation or
exegesis of a text considered perfect and of divine origin
aimed at informing and vivifying a religious community
connected with religious practice and ethics
thought to assist the attainment of salvation and liberation
Hindu philosophy and theology
The Hindu philosophies are less concerned with interpreting
scriptural texts
They are focused on providing rational arguments to establish
particular claims
The original stra literature
Brahma- or Vednta-stra of Bdaryaa
Mms-stra of Jaimini
Vaieika-stra of Kada or Kyapa
Nyya-stra of Gotama
Yoga-stra of Patajali
Smkhya-krik of vara Ka and Skhya-stra of Kapila
Vednta-stra of Bdaryaa
An attempt to organize the Upaniads, an ancient source
of teachings about the self and God
It received scores of commentaries and continues to be a
text studied by Hindu philosophers and theologians today
Vednta-stra of Bdaryaa
The first three stras
1.1.1 Now, then, one should desire to know Brahman
1.1.2 Brahman is from whom this world is generated,
sustained, and into whom it returns.
1.1.3 The scripture is the source of knowledge about
Brahman
Nyya-stra
Concerned with critically examining prama, or the
instruments of knowledge
1. pratyaka - perception
2. anumna - inference
3. upamna - comparison
4. abda - language or testimony
Nyya-stra
Concerned with the proper structure of an argument: the
relationship of that which is to be proved, with the
reasons, with an example, all of which must generate a
reasonable conclusion
Concerned with the culture of debate; the nyya tradition
may have arisen out of Indians ancient practice of public
discourse on religion
Nyya-stra
1. Vda or discourse. Discourse is when (two people) assign a thesis (p) and
an anti-thesis (not-p), which are criticized and supported by means of
argumentation and the instruments of knowledge (prama), such that the
final conclusions of p and not-p are not contradicted, by presenting the five
aspects of a syllogism.
2. Jalpa or sophistry. Sophistry is like discourse but involves criticizing and
supporting arguments through the use of methods that would equal defeat
in a discourse (e.g. one doesnt understand the opponents argument, one
gets confused, one cant reply on time), pointless rejoinders, and quibbling
(e.g. taking words out of context or misconstruing them, taking them as
literal when they are clearly metaphorical, etc.).
3. Vita or grumbling.Grumbling is sophistry but devoid of any attempt
to establish a particular thesis.
Smkhya-krik of vara Ka
Provides a systematic account of the origin and evolution
of the mind-body complex of the human person
Aims at providing knowledge of the dierence between the
self (purua) and matter (prakti). Skhya Krik, verse 68,
describes this:
With the cessation of matter (prakti) due to its
purpose having been accomplished, the self (purua)
on attain separation from the body, attains isolation
(kaivalya) which is both certain and final.
Contemporary Developments
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
(1888-1975), the 2nd president of
India (seated here with JFK) used
Hindu philosophies to think
creatively about Western
philosophy, science, religion, and
technology
His book The Hindu View of Life
(1927) attempted to root Hindu
philosophy in personal experience
