Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Hindu and Buddhist Thought (Not In A Series)

This text provides an introduction to the main schools of Indian philosophy within both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It analyzes the schools' different doctrines and compares their approaches to specific philosophical topics - ontology, epistemology, perception, consciousness, and creation and causality. It also looks at contributions by individual thinkers, such as Bhartrhari who helped introduce linguistic analysis into Indian philosophy; and Asanga the believed founder of the Yogacara or ''Practice of Yoga'' school. What is Indian Philosophy? Why has India been excluded from the history of philosophy? Richard King provides an introduction to the main schools of Hindu and Buddhist thought, emphasising the living history of interaction and debate between the various traditions. The book outlines the broad spectrum of Indian philosophical schools and questions prevailing assumptions about the 'mythical' ahistorical and 'theological' nature of Indian thought. Central philosophical questions are addressed: what really exists? How do we know what we know? Can we trust our perceptions of reality? What are we and where do we come from? Early chapters discuss the nature of philosophy in general, examning the shifting usage of the term throughout history. The author argues that a single definition or characterisation of the subject matter is impossible and that histories of philosophy remain tied to an ethnocentric and colonial perspective so long as they ignore the possibility of philosophical thought 'East of the Suez'. This highlights the need for a post-colonial and global approach to philosophy.Key FeaturesThematic approach rather than separate chapters on various schoolsEmphasis on history of interaction/debate between the various trendsIntroductory and concluding chapters on exclusion of 'India' from history of philosophy Introduces The Main Schools Of Hindu And Buddhist Thought, Emphasizing The Living History Of Interaction And Debate Between The Various Traditions, While Outlining The Broad Spectrum Of Indian Philosophical Schools And Questioning Prevailing Assumptions About The Mythical, Ahistorical, And Theological Nature Of Indian Thought. India And The History Of Philosophy -- Can Philosophy Be Indian? -- The Varieties Of Hindu Philosophy -- Buddhist Philosophy In India -- Ontology: What Really Exists? -- Epistemology: How Do We Know What We Know? -- Perception: Do We See Things As They Are? -- Consciousness And The Body: What Are We? -- Creation And Causality: Where Do We Come From? -- Philosophy In A Post-colonial World. Richard King. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 246-254) And Index. What is Indian Philosophy? Why has India been excluded from the history of philosophy? Richard King provides an introduction to the main schools of Hindu and Buddhist thought, emphasising the living history of interaction and debate between the various traditions. The book outlines the broad spectrum of Indian philosophical schools and questions prevailing assumptions about the 'mythical', ahistorical and 'theological' nature of Indian thought. -- Provided by publisher