Reunderstanding Indian Philosophy : Some Glimpses

Contents: Foreword. The threshold. 1. Reunderstanding Indian philosophy. 2. Concepts in the philosophy of Indian origin. 3. Some thoughts on the beginnings of religion, philosophy and culture in the Indian context. 4. The significance of Pratitya-Samutpada, Samanyalaksana and Apoha in Buddhism. 5. Some aspects of Gaudapada's philosophy. 6. A background picture of Jainism an Buddhism. 7. The theory of meaning in Indian grammar system. 8. The concepts of Duhkha, Trsna and Vaira as found in Dhammapada. 9. Buddhism and change. 10. Jiva and Ajiva. 11. Philosophy of Kundakunda. 12. The grammar of Indian moral concepts. 13. Maya-vada: a critical examination of the theory of world-illusion in post-Sankara period. 14. Sankara on prescriptive and descriptive sentences. 15. Vedantic theory and the practical Vedanta of Swami Vivekananda. 16. Paryapti relation. 17. Nyaya logic and epistemology. 18. The concept of Tarka. 19. Inductive elements in Indian logic. 20. The origin of Indian idealism. 21. Four phases of Hinduism. 22. Dialectics: Buddhist and Marxist. 23. Indian philosophy: retrospect and prospect. Index.

Is it determined by any geographical boundaries? Does it emerge out of cultural patterns of the society? With such and other basic questions Prof. Barlingay analyses the concepts theories and trends in philosophy as they have developed in our sub-continent over the ages. Although this account of philosophy is called 'Indian' he emphasises that the issues discussed by the ancient and medieval philosophers are essentially abstract and there is nothing 'Indian' about this philosophy exclusively. Moreover, the understanding of Indian philosophy that has emerged in the past two centuries owes its direction and commitment to indologist of western orientation. Prof. Barlingay's aim is to overview the Indian philosophy as presented by ancient and medieval philosophers and not the 're-routed' interpretation. Hence, he refers to it as a 'Re-understanding'. In this challenging endeavor Prof. Barlingay has discussed in-depth and critically the basic issues and problems raised by the orthodox and unorthodox systems like Carvaka, Jain, Buddhism, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa and Vedanta. The book is replete with his logical reasoning. Within its anthropological context the author establishes a epistemological, metaphysical and axiological significance of the Indian philosophy offering the reader a unique insight in the subject. (jacket)