Problems of Philosophy (Indian and Western) B.A. 3 (Semester V)

 The main problems of Indian Philosophy

Indian philosophy is concerned with a wide range of topics, including the nature of reality, the soul, causality, knowledge, and ethics. Some of the main problems that Indian philosophers have grappled with include:

• The problem of creation: How did the universe come into existence?
• The problem of causality: What is the relationship between cause and effect?
• The problem of the soul: What is the nature of the soul? Is it immortal?
• The problem of reality: What is the nature of reality? Is it one or many? Material or immaterial?
• The problem of universals: What is the nature of universals? Do they exist independently of particular things?

Problem regarding creation

There are many different theories of creation in Indian philosophy. Some of the most important ones include:

• Materialism: Materialists believe that the universe is made up of material substance and that there is no such thing as a creator.
• Parmāṇukāraṇavāda: Parmāṇukāraṇavāda is a theory of atomism that posits that the universe is made up of indivisible atoms.
• Prakṛti-pariṇāmavāda: Prakṛti-pariṇāmavāda is a theory that posits that the universe is a manifestation of Prakṛti, which is a fundamental substance that is both material and conscious.
• Māyāvāda: Māyāvāda is a theory that posits that the universe is an illusion (māyā) and that Brahman, the ultimate reality, is the only thing that is real.
• Brahma-pariṇāmavāda: Brahma-pariṇāmavāda is a theory that posits that the universe is a manifestation of Brahman, the ultimate reality.

Theories regarding Causality

There are also many different theories of causality in Indian philosophy. Some of the most important ones include:

• Satkāryavāda: Satkāryavāda is the theory that the cause is pre-existent in the effect.
• Asatkāryavāda: Asatkāryavāda is the theory that the effect is not pre-existent in the cause.
• Pratītyasamutpāda: Pratītyasamutpāda is the Buddhist theory of dependent origination, which posits that all phenomena arise dependently on other phenomena.
• Pariṇāmavāda: Pariṇāmavāda is the theory that the cause transforms itself into the effect.
• Vivartavāda: Vivartavāda is the theory that the cause appears as the effect.

Problems regarding Ātman (soul)

There are also many different theories of the soul in Indian philosophy. Some of the most important ones include:

• Bhūtacaitanyavāda: Bhūtacaitanyavāda is the theory that the soul is made up of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and that it is conscious.
• Anātmavāda: Anātmavāda is the Buddhist theory that there is no such thing as a permanent, unchanging soul.
• Anekāntavāda: Anekāntavāda is the Jain theory that there are many different ways of looking at the soul and that no one view is complete.
• Ekātmavāda: Ekātmavāda is the theory that there is only one soul, which is Brahman.

Nature of Reality

There are also many different theories of the nature of reality in Indian philosophy. Some of the most important ones include:

• Monism: Monism is the theory that there is only one reality.
• Dualism: Dualism is the theory that there are two realities: mind and matter.
• Pluralism: Pluralism is the theory that there are many realities.

Problems of Universals

There are also many different theories of universals in Indian philosophy. Some of the most important ones include:

• Realism: Realism is the theory that universals exist independently of particular things.
• Conceptualism: Conceptualism is the theory that universals exist only in the mind.
• Nominalism: Nominalism is the theory that universals do not exist at all.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many problems that Indian philosophers have grappled with over the centuries. Indian philosophy is a rich and complex tradition with a great deal to offer those who are interestedProblem of substance, attribute, mode, relation, idealism, realism & phenomenalism

The problem of substance, attribute, mode, and relation is concerned with the nature of reality and the relationships between different parts of reality.

• Substance: A substance is something that exists independently of anything else.
• Attribute: An attribute is a property of a substance.
• Mode: A mode is a way in which a substance exists.
• Relation: A relation is a connection between two or more things.

Idealism is the view that the world is fundamentally mental or immaterial. Realism is the view that the world is fundamentally physical or material. Phenomenalism is the view that the world consists only of our sense data.

Nature and source of knowledge: Rationalism, empiricism, criticism and intuitionism: A priori and A posteriori

The nature and source of knowledge is one of the central problems in philosophy. Rationalism is the view that knowledge comes from reason. Empiricism is the view that knowledge comes from experience. Criticism is the view that knowledge comes from a combination of reason and experience. Intuitionism is the view that knowledge comes from direct insight or intuition.

A priori knowledge is knowledge that is independent of experience. A posteriori knowledge is knowledge that is based on experience.

Theories of Truth: Correspondence theory, Coherence theory and Pragmatic theory

The correspondence theory of truth is the view that truth is a correspondence between a proposition and the facts. The coherence theory of truth is the view that truth is a matter of coherence within a system of beliefs. The pragmatic theory of truth is the view that truth is whatever is useful or beneficial.

Problems regarding Space, Time and Causality

Space, time, and causality are three fundamental concepts in our understanding of the world. However, there are a number of philosophical problems associated with these concepts.

For example, what is the nature of space? Is it infinite or finite? What is the relationship between space and time? Is causality deterministic or indeterministic?

Creationism and Evolutionism: Problem of creationism, Theories of evolutionism: Creative evolutionism (Bergson), Emergent evolutionism (Alexander), Evolutionism of Aristotle and Hegel

Creationism is the view that the universe was created by a supernatural being. Evolutionism is the view that the universe developed through a process of natural selection.

Creative evolutionism is a view of evolution that emphasizes the role of creativity and novelty in the evolutionary process. Emergent evolutionism is a view of evolution that emphasizes the emergence of new and complex forms of life from simpler forms of life.

Problem and criteria of personal identity and other minds

The problem of personal identity is concerned with what makes us who we are over time. The problem of other minds is concerned with how we can know that other people have minds and are conscious.

There are a number of different criteria that have been proposed for personal identity, such as physical continuity, psychological continuity, and memory. There are also a number of different arguments that have been proposed for the existence of other minds.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many problems that philosophers have grappled with over the centuries. Philosophy is a rich and complex tradition with a great deal to offer those who are interested.