Perspectives of Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Hinduism

by Jeananne Fowler

Overview

An introduction to the six major orthodox schools of philosophical thought in Hinduism, known as the orthodox "darsanas". These are concerned with the nature of reality and the path they offer towards enlightenment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781898723936
Publisher:	Sussex Academic Press
Publication date:	09/01/2002
Pages:	460
Product dimensions:	6.82(w) x 10.04(h) x 0.86(d)

About the Author

Jeaneane Fowler is a former head of philosophy and religious studies at the University of Wales–Newport, and a former honorary research fellow. Her publications include Hinduism: Beliefs and Practices and Humanism.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	vii
	Preface and Acknowledgements	ix
	Introduction
	The nature of philosophy	1
	The darsanas	4
	Reality	5
	Epistemology: the theory of knowledge	7
	The self	9
	Causality	11
	The concept of God	12
	Liberation	13
1	Types of belief
	Theism	15
	Monotheism	20
	Polytheism	22
	Pantheism	24
	Panentheism	28
	Dualism	29
	Pluralism	29
	Monism	30
	Non-dualism	31
2	Veda
	Schools of Indian philosophy	33
	Veda: wisdom	34
	Vedic religion	36
	Polytheism of the Vedas	38
	Monotheism of the Vedas	39
	Vedanta	46
	The Upanisads	46
	Brahman	49
	Atman	52
	Brahman-atman	53
	The empirical self	54
	Liberation	55
	Perspectives of reality in the Upanisads	57
	The means to ultimate Reality	59
	The Hindu darsanas	60
3	Purva Mimamsa
	Background to the school	65
	Main proponents and commentators	67
	General features of the school	68
	Reality: the Mimamsa view of the world	70
	Padarthas: categories of reality	71
	Epistemology	73
	Error	76
	Pramanas	77
	The self	85
	Causality	89
	The concept of God	92
	Liberation	94
4	Vaisesika
	Background to the school	98
	Main proponents and commentators	99
	Reality: the Vaisesika view of the world	100
	Epistemology	103
	Pramanas	103
	Error	104
	Padarthas: categories of reality	104
	The self	117
	Causality	120
	The concept of God	123
	Liberation	125
5	Nyaya
	Background to the school	127
	Main proponents and commentators	129
	Reality: the Nyaya view of the world	130
	Padarthas: categories of reality	132
	Epistemology	134
	Pramanas	134
	Prameyas	146
	The self	147
	Causality	150
	The concept of God	152
	Liberation	157
6	Samkhya
	Background to the school	160
	Main proponents and commentators	163
	Reality: the Samkhya view of the world	165
	Prakrti	166
	Epistemology	180
	Pramanas	180
	The Self: purusas	182
	The interaction of purusas and prakrti	187
	Causality	190
	Atheism	193
	Liberation	194
7	Classical Yoga
	Background to the school	197
	Main proponents and commentators	201
	General features of the school	202
	Reality: the view of the world in classical Yoga	203
	Epistemology	205
	Pramanas	205
	Citta	207
	The eight angas of Yoga (Astanga Yoga)	211
	Samadhi	216
	Samprajnata samadhi	217
	Asamprajnata samadhi	218
	The self	219
	Causality	227
	The concept of God	229
	Liberation	231
8	Advaita Vedanta
	Background to the school	238
	Main proponents and commentators	240
	General features of the school	243
	Reality: the Advaita view of the world	244
	Epistemology	255
	Pramanas	258
	Error	261
	The self	262
	Causality	269
	The concept of God	275
	Liberation	279
9	Visistadvaita Vedanta
	Background to the school	288
	Main proponents and commentators	293
	Reality: the Visistadvaita view of the world	294
	Padarthas: categories of reality	295
	Epistemology	303
	Pramanas	306
	The self	310
	The concept of God	317
	Causality	326
	Liberation	331
10	Dvaita Vedanta
	Background to the school	340
	Main proponents and commentators	342
	Reality: the Dvaita view of the world	342
	Padarthas: categories of reality	348
	Epistemology	349
	Pramanas	357
	Error	354
	The self	355
	Causality	361
	The concept of God	364
	Liberation	369
	Conclusion
	Notes	382
	Glossary	422
	Bibliography	434
	Index	444

Editorial Reviews

Thoroughly researched, well-organized, well-written treatment. It ranks high among the numerous treatments of its subject. Recommended.”  —Choice

“The presentation is solid and will serve the needs of advanced undergraduate and beginning level graduate students, as well as non-specialists in Indian philosophy.”  —Religious Studies Review

From the Publisher