What Are Critically Philosophical and Not Philosophical in Indian Philosophy?
Introduction
Philosophy is regarded as studying a general approach and understanding of concepts like reality, our very existence, nature, knowledge, value, reason, mind, and language. The term philosophy in Ancient Greek translates to Philosophia that translates as the ‘love of wisdom’ or also a ‘friend of wisdom.’ Western philosophy can be divided into multiple categories based on chronology, including the ancient and modern philosophy (Raju p.17). The division is also done based on the topic of concern with significant issues such as epistemology, logic, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics. The literary style is also a concept used in classification to ring up divisions such as analytic philosophy, among others. East is East while West is West; therefore, never the twain shall meet. This phrase is often used to distinguish the entire concept of philosophy in the western perceptive from everything Indian.
Indian Philosophy, on the other hand, represents a system of thought that reflects on the development of civilization of the Indian subcontinent. Indian philosophy includes orthodox systems, also referred to as astika such as Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva-Mimamsa also referred to as Mimamsa. Other systems include the Vedanta school of philosophy and unorthodox systems, also referred to as nastika that provides for Buddhism and Jainism. Indian philosophical thought is mainly concerned with philosophical problems that include cosmology, metaphysics, logic, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of Indian religion (Nina, 25). Indian philosophy schools are divided by the Brahmanical tradition as either orthodox or non-orthodox based on the schools’ regard on Veda, the unfillable Indian philosophical knowledge source. The sources of Indian philosophical knowledge can be divided into six; Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṃsā, and Vedanta. Heterodox schools are further classified into three schools that include; Jain, Buddhist, and Cārvāka. Indian philosophy also includes other classification methods, leading to the rise of sixteen more classes based on the Śaiva and Raseśvara traditions.
The distinction between the Western and Indian Philosophy
The distinction between the Western and Indian philosophy has been established from the traditional thinking of the two philosophical concepts. The difference is exemplified in everything Indian and Western from attire, food, the system of education, thought process, relationships, emotional and societal organization. Indian philosophical thought is mainly characterized by spiritual and mystic concepts in nature (Bhatt p227). On the other hand, Western philosophical reflection is primarily concerned with the scientific, logic, rational, and materialistic to the individualistic approach. An analysis of the world or Darshana in Indian philosophy originates from scriptures like Veda. The total philosophical thinking of living and feeling can be summarized as the philosophy of the region. Indian Philosophy is concerned with a pursuit of truth and a state of inner happiness as an ultimate goal above everything else in the Indian way of life. Indian philosophy is built upon four purusharthas: artha, karma, dharma, and moksha, a means for every individual to attain a fulfilling life, the ultimate goal of any follower of Indian religion and philosophy.
The source of Indian and Western philosophical knowledge
Western philosophical thought was influenced and developed by Western religion, science, mathematics, and politics by some early scholars like Plato and Socrates. As a result, the philosophy provides knowledge in vast fields from education, government systems, nations, wars, and victories, among other areas. Indian philosophy, on the other hand, was focused on cosmology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of Indian religion. The concept of Indian philosophy is ontological digs deep into what really matters to the people and knowledge (Nina, p26). The knowledge system is generalized as compared to the Western counterparts whose system is highly dissecting. Western philosophy tends to be more individualized so that the system is ok moving with variety, leaving behind the spirit of absolute unity. As a result, Western philosophy portrays its love for specificity in knowledge.
While the general concept of Western philosophy is centered and, in some instances, even limited to Christianity, Indian philosophy is a complete mix of different religious approaches, including; Hinduism, Islam, Taoism, and Buddhism. However, Western philosophy is, in a way, outer independent from religion since it gives reason and logic primacy as a guide to every aspect of life for individuals. As a result, people in the west are focused on identifying and proving the truth (Raju p11). The concept of individualism is key in Western Philosophy, leading to the development of individual rights. Indian Philosophy is inner independent allocating central governance to social responsibility rather than a materialistic and individualistic society. The philosophy is guided and integrated with religion.
According to the Indian religion and philosophy, Moksa is also referred to as nirvana, is the end of life, the ultimate goal in life. According to Moksa, an individual attains the ultimate goal by denouncing their attachment to the material world, living among the society, and identifying its futility, thus achieve the ultimate goal of freedom (Bhatt, p243). On the other hand, Western philosophy focuses on the now and here, without a reference to the past and future events, as is the Karma doctrine of Indian philosophy. Western philosophy believes that everything that one has to account for is provided in this very life, and as a result, it is not necessarily as a result of our actions.
Western philosophy is a compilation of the Western European schools of thought and their philosophical traditions focusing on individualism. The idea of altruism is working towards the collective good of society. Indian philosophical, though also referred to as Sanskrit: darśhana, encompasses the philosophical ideology to the establishment of the Indian subcontinent (Bhatt, p 292). The western concept of philosophy is centered towards the critical discussion originating from Plato terming philosophy as unexamined wisdom, identifying that philosophy is a direct means towards understanding ‘true reality’. Indian philosophy, on the other hand, is built upon “darsana” or “mata.” Darsana examines philosophy in terms of the vision of reality or what is deemed real, fostering the rise of six views of reality Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa, and Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta. Philosophical thought, also incorporated non-Vedic schools such as Carvaka, Jainism, and Buddhism, as well as the empirical perception of knowledge.
Work Cited
Bhatt S.R., ‘Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika,’ in Carr & Mahalingam (eds) 1997, Companion Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy, Routledge.
Raju, P., T. Introduction to Comparative Philosophy, (Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass,1997 Reprint) Pp. 17-18.
Raju, P., T. Philosophical Tradition of India, (London, George Allen & Unwin Ltd.,1997), P.l1
Smart N. Doctrine and Argument in Indian Philosophy, London. 1964: Allen & Unwin