Philosophy and India: Ancestors, Outsiders, and Predecessors

Abstract

Philosophy is the terrain that can systematically explicate the soul of India. Yet, notwithstanding its true capacity and assigned centrality, philosophy in modern India has not lived up to fulfilling this task. Taking cognizance of this history, this book embarks on the project of critically assessing the contributions of seven twentieth-century academic philosophers of India. The first part examines three philosophers who offer Indian solutions to Western problems: Krishnachandra Bhattacharyya, who offers Advaita to overcome the Kantian problem of unknowability of the self; Akeel Bilgrami, who offers Gandhi's views of exemplar as the way out for solving the problems surrounding Western moral philosophy; and B. K. Matilal, who invests the resources of the epic, the Mahabharata, to buy ethics for Indian philosophy. The second part discusses Daya Krishna and K. Satchidananda Murty, who, while preoccupied with ancient Indian and Western philosophies, have failed to take into consideration the contributions of their immediate predecessors. The last part discusses how both Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and S. Radhakrishnan explain away the radical project of Buddha and Buddhism and portray it as a part of Hinduism. In this context the contribution of B. R. Ambedkar and T. R. V. Murti is discussed. Thus, this book brings critical perspectives on some of the major Indian philosophers' discussion on the West, modernity, colonialism, classical Indian philosophy, and modern Western philosophy. This critical evaluation of the works of these prominent philosophers will enable us to take stock of the strengths and also be aware of the limitations if not weaknesses that prevail in the practice of philosophy in India.