Philosophy

This course will introduce the student to the philosophical contentions, ethical and political arguments and conceptions of the problems of life underlying the writings of a selected list of thinkers of twentieth century India. Together, these streams of thought will also show to the student how the Indian culture and philosophy has grappled with perennial questions in the light of contemporary problems and how questions of life and meaning can be addressed in these times in ways unique to this tradition of philosophical enquiry.

Introduction to Non-dual Shaiva Metaphysics, Concerns and Development, Fundamentals of Shaiva Logic and Epistemology, Theories of Consciousness, Self and Otherness, Knowledge, Error, Recognition, Causation and Action, Bondage and Liberation, Critics of Saiva Epistemology and Metaphysics: Buddhist Idealism, Nyaya Realism, Vedantic Idealism

1. Introduction to SankhyaSystem
2. Theory of Knowledge in Sankhya: Pratyaksa, Anumana, Apta-vacana. The Sankhya Theory ofError
3. Metaphysics in Sankhya: Two Realities - Purusa and Prakriti, Three Gunas of Prakriti, Theory of Causality – Satkaryavada, The Sankhya Naturalism –Prakriti-parinama-vada.
4. Sankhya Notion of Suffering(Duhkha)
5. The Sankhya Conception of Bondage andLiberation
6. Influence of Sankhya Metaphysics in Ayurveda andYoga

A study and examination of the logical, epistemological and ethical problems in the classical schools of Indian Philosophy, science and metaphysics in ancient India. The course will emphasize the insights of ancient Indian thinkers and their perennial preoccupation with issues centering on man and his being in the world in society.