Introduction to Indian Philosophy

Course Code: BRS02

Introduction to Indian Philosophy

BDII, Semester 1, 4 Credit Hours, College Paper

Course Objectives:

1. To provide an introduction to various philosophical traditions in India.
2. To help students know the interconnection of philosophical traditions and religious studies.

Course Requirement:

• Final Examination: 60%
• Internal Assessment: 40%

Course Outline:

Unit I: Introduction

• Nature of Indian philosophy, meaning (darsana) and scope of Indian philosophy, relation between philosophy and theology, sources of Indian philosophy, place of authority and reasoning in Indian philosophy, general tendencies/characters of Indian philosophical reflections and the space-time background.

Unit II: A Brief Sketch of Indian Systems

• The impact of sramana movements, orthodox and heterodox schools.

Unit III: The Caruvaka

• Caruvaka epistemology: inference is not certain, testimony is not a safe source of knowledge.
• Metaphysics: the world is made of four elements, there is no soul, there is no God.
• Ethics.

Unit IV: Jaina

• The Jaina theory of knowledge: the nature and kinds of knowledge, the Jaina theory of judgment (Syadvada).
• Metaphysics: Jiva and Ajiva (Pudgal, Dharma, Adharma, Akasha, Kala).
• Ethics: the bondage of the soul, liberation.

Unit V: Buddhist

• 4 Noble Truths (Arya Satya), Dependent Origination (Pratityasamutpada), Karmasamsara, the doctrine of impermanence, Nirvana (as ineffable experience).

Unit VI: Nyaya – Vaishesika

• Theory of knowledge, the nature of the physical world, the individual self and its liberation, arguments for the existence of God.
• Fundamental categories of life, atomism, and automation.
• Ethics and life of the future.

Unit VII: Samkhya – Yoga

• Metaphysics and theory of knowledge; the problem of belief in God: Purusha and Prakriti as eternal varieties.
• Yoga as liberating, Astahga Yoga (eight steps of Patanjali), understanding of the psyche, the importance of ethics and the place of God in Yoga thought.

Unit VIII: Purva Mimamsa – Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta)

• Epistemology and interpretative theories of Purva Mimamsa; supremacy of the Veda and Vedic dharma based on ritual sacrifice; the idea of Apurva.
• Vedanta critique of Purva Mimamsa position, canon of Vedanta: prasthanathraya (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta Sutra).
• Three major schools of Vedanta:
  1. Advaita (non-dualism) Vedanta of Sankara
  2. Visistadvaita (“qualified non-dualism”) of Ramanuja
  3. Dvaita (dualism) of Madhva

Unit IX: Tribal/Adivasi/Dalit Worldviews

• Connections to and distinctions from the orthodox and heterodox schools of thought: quest for the origin of soul and Karma.
• Different ways of doing philosophy with special reference to myths and symbols.
• Communitarianism and God-Human-World relationship.

Unit X: Indian Philosophies in Dialogue: Prospects and Problems.

Bibliography

Required Reading:

• Chatterjee, Satish Chandra and Dhirendra Mohan Datta. An Introduction to Indian Philosophy. Calcutta: University of Calcutta, 1984.
• Hiriyanna, M. Outlines of Indian Philosophy. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1993.
• Longchar, A. Wati. The Tribal Religious Traditions in North East India: An Introduction. Jorhat: Eastern Theological College, 2000.
• Longkumar, Samuel and Moanungsang. A Reader in Primal Religious Traditions And Their Select Movement In India. Kolkata: Authors, 2012, p. 29-52, 122-158.
• Raj, M. C. Dalithink: An Adventure into Dalit Philosophy. Timkur: Ambedkar Resource Centre Rural; Education for Development Society, 2006.
• Raju, P.T. Philosophical Traditions of India. Condon: George Ellen & UnrNinUtd., 1971.
• Rao, Katti Padma. Charvaka Darsahan: Ancient Indian Dalit Philosophy. Madrass: The Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, 1997.
• Thanzauva, K. Theology of Community – Tribal Theology in the Making. Aizawl: AICS, 2004, pp. 10-20, 136-151, 186-213.

Supplementary Reading:

• Aleaz, K.P. The Relevance of Relation in Upakaras Advaita Vedanta. Delhi: Kant Publications, 1996.
• Chattopadhyay, Debiprasad. Indian Philosophy: A Popular Introduction. 7th ed. New Delhi: People’s Publication House [1964], 1993.
• Clooney, Francis X. Theology After Vedanta: An Experiment in Comparative Theology. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1993.
• Dasgupta, Surendranath. A History of Indian Philosophy. Vol. I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [1922], 1951.
• Devaraja, N.K. Philosophy, Religion and Culture. Essays in Search of Definitions and Directions. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1974.
• Himinga, C. L. “The Traditional Mizo Concept of God,” in Towards A Tribal Theology: The Mizo Perspective. Edited by K. Thanzauva. Mizoram: Mizo Theological Perspective, 1989, p. 45-53.
• K. Giri. BrahmafijnasdofUffcara as Theology: A Postcolonial Appraisal. Kolkata: Punthi Pustak, 2013.
• K. Giri. Sabda Pramana and Indian Biblical Hermeneutics: An Inter-cultural Dialogue. New Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2015.
• K. Giri. “Binary of Darsana in Postcolonial Thought: A Quest after the Philosophy/Theology Debate.” William Carey and National Harmony. Edited by Pratap Chandra Gine and Ratna Dutta (Serampore: Serampore College, 2012): 58-79.
• Lasetso, Razouselie and Yangkahao Vashiim, ed. Tribal Christian Theology: Methods and Source for Constructing a Relevant Theology for Indigenous People of North East India. Jorhat: Eastern Theological College, 2007.
• Longchar, A. Wati and Larry E. Davis, ed. Doing Theology with Tribal Resources: Context and Perspective. Jorhat: TSC, 1999.
• Malkovsky, Bradley J., ed. New Perspectives on Advaita Vedanta: Essays in Commemoration of Professor Richard De Smet S. J. Leiden, Boston, Koln: Brill, 2000.
• Mohanty, Jitendra Nath. Reason and Tradition in Indian Thought: An Essay on the Nature of Indian Philosophical Thinking. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
• Moanungsang, Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga: Vedic & Christian Spirituality Readdressed Towards a Humane Society. New Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2014, pp. lxii+481.
• Radhakrishnan, S. Indian Philosophy. Vols. I & II. New Delhi: Oxford University Press [ 1948], 2002.
• Sharma, Chandradhar. A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1964.
• Sinha, Jadunath. History of Indian Philosophy. Calcutta: Central Book Agency, 1952.
• Smet, Richard V. De. “The Theological Method of Sankara.” Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, Philosophical Faculty of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, 1953.
• Smet, Richard V. De. Brahman and Person: Essays by Richard De Smet. Edited by Ivo Coelho. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2010.
• Soto, S. Liangao, Tribal Theology of Integral Humanhood: A Resource from Shamanism of the Nagas. Delhi: ISPCK, 2011, 60-93, 196-240.
• Thanzauva, K. ed. Mizoram: Towards A Tribal Theology: The Mizo Perspective. Jorhat: Mizo Theological Conference, 1989.
• Troisi, J. Tribal Religion: Religious Beliefs and Practices among the Santals. New Delhi: Manohar Publications, 1979, pp. 71-114.
• Vanlaltlani, T. Tribal Religion: Mizo and Bru, Aizawl: Mizo Theological Association, 2009.

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