A Time of Novelty : Logic, Emotion, and Intellectual Life in Early Modern India, 1500-1700 C.E.

This book argues that a philosophical community emerged in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century India that crafted an intellectual life on the basis of intellectual and emotional responses to novelty in Sanskrit logic (nyāya-śāstra). As the book demonstrates, novelty was a primary concept used by Sanskrit logicians during this period to mark the boundaries of a philosophical community in both intellectual and emotional terms. This concept was expressed in their texts through the use of terms such as “old” and “new” when discussing certain philosophical opinions, signaling that periodization was a major component of their philosophy. By retaining space for emotion when studying intellectual thought, this book recovers not only what it means to “think” novelty but also what it means to “feel” novelty. Studying little-known essays by Sanskrit logicians in early modernity, the book explores the contours of what is termed “intellectual novelty” and “affective novelty” in Sanskrit logic—expressions of novelty in which is contained both cognitive and emotional content that, taken together, constitute intellectual life. As these expressions ultimately collapse into each other, the book argues that what emerges is an imaginative process that brings into being a new philosophical community. In A Time of Novelty, Samuel Wright re-envisions the relationship between philosophy and history in premodern India. This relationship is studied through the tradition of Sanskrit logic between 1500 and 1700 CE -- the period in Indian history that witnessed the ascendency of the Mughal Empire. During this period, Sanskrit logicians would refer to themselves and their arguments as 'new,' indicating that the concept of novelty was at the center of their philosophical project. By retaining space for emotion when studying intellectual thought,this book recovers both what it means to "think" novelty and to "feel" novelty for these thinkers.Focusing on a number of little-known essays by early modern Sanskrit logicians, Wright argues that the concept of novelty is used to forge a new philosophical community in this period where novelty is both an intellectual and affective category. This perspective allows the book to raise questions that have never been asked when studying Sanskrit logic -- questions concerning critical thought, mood, imagination, and manuscript culture. Wright expands the ways in which we study philosophical thought by considering philosophy as deeply immersed in the felt experiences of one's life, at the confluence of thinking and feeling. In A Time of Novelty, Samuel Wright re-envisions the relationship between philosophy and history in premodern India. This relationship is studied through the tradition of Sanskrit logic between 1500 and 1700 CE — the period in Indian history that witnessed the ascendency of the Mughal Empire. During this period, Sanskrit logicians would refer to themselves and their arguments as 'new,' indicating that the concept of novelty was at the center of their philosophical project. By retaining space for emotion when studying intellectual thought,this book recovers both what it means to ?think? novelty and to ?feel? novelty for these thinkers. Focusing on a number of little-known essays by early modern Sanskrit logicians, Wright argues that the concept of novelty is used to forge a new philosophical community in this period where novelty is both an intellectual and affective category. This perspective allows the book to raise questions that have never been asked when studying Sanskrit logic — questions concerning critical thought, mood, imagination, and manuscript culture. Wright expands the ways in which we study philosophical thought by considering philosophy as deeply immersed in the felt experiences of one's life, at the confluence of thinking and feeling. "This book argues that a philosophical community emerges in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century India that crafts an intellectual life on the basis of intellectual and emotional responses to novelty in Sanskrit logic (nyāya-śāstra). As the book demonstrates, novelty was a primary concept used by Sanskrit logicians during this period to mark the boundaries of a philosophical community in both intellectual and emotional terms. This concept was expressed in their texts through the use of terms such as old and new when discussing certain philosophical opinions, signaling that periodization was a major component of their philosophy. By retaining space for emotion when studying intellectual thought, this book recovers not only what it means to 'think' novelty but also what it means to 'feel' novelty. Studying little-known essays by Sanskrit logicians in early modernity, the book explores the contours of what is termed 'intellectual novelty' and 'affective novelty' in Sanskrit logic-expressions of novelty in which is contained both cognitive and emotional content that, taken together, constitute intellectual life"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 A Time of Novelty 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Maps 10 List of Tables 12 Preface and Acknowledgments 14 English Translations of Sanskrit Titles 18 Note on Transliteration 22 Introduction 24 PART I. NEWNESS AND EMOTION 52 1. Doubt 54 2. Objectivity 85 PART II. FEELING AND REASONING 116 3. Happiness 118 4. Dying 149 PART III. SPACE AND TIME 184 5. Space 186 6. Time 218 Conclusion: A Time of Novelty 232 Appendix 242 Bibliography 272 Index 292 In 'a Time Of Novelty', Samuel Wright Re-envisions The Relationship Between Philosophy And History In Premodern India Through Study Of The Tradition Of Sanskrit Logic Between 1500 And 1700 Ce. In Examining These Logicians, Wright Expands The Ways In Which We Study Philosophical Thought By Considering Philosophy As Deeply Immersed In The Felt Experiences Of One's Life, At The Confluence Of Thinking And Feeling.