Philosophy : Nature of philosophy, its relationship

between religion and culture, difference between Indian and
Western philosophies, Veda and Upnishad – Brahmin, Atman ; Rit Gita Philosophy – Sthitpragya, Swadharma,
Karmayoga ; Charvaka Philosophy – Epistmology, Metaphysics, Hedonism ; Jain Philosophy – Nature of Jiva,
Anekantvada Syadvada, Panchmahavrata; Buddhist Philosophy – Pratityasamutpada, Ashtanga-Marga,
Anatmavada, Kshanikvada ; Sankhya Philosophy – Satkaryavada, Nature of Prakriti and Purusha, Vikasavada;
Yoga Philosophy – Ashtanga Yoga ; Nyaya Philosophy – Prama Aprama, Asatkaryavada ; Vaisheshika Phi
losophy -Parmanuvada p; Mimansa Philosophy – Dharma, Theory of Apurva ; Advaita Vedanta Philosophy –
Brahman, Maya Jagat Moksha, Kautilya – Saptang Theory, Mandal Theory ;Gurunanak – Social Ethical Phi
losophy ; Guru Ghasidas, Characteristics of Satnama; Vallabhacharya – Pushtimarga ; Swami Vivekananda –
Practical Vedanta, Universal Religion ; Sri Arbindo – Integral Yoga, Supermind ; Mahatma Gandhi – Ahimsa,
Satyagraha, Elevan Vows ; Bhimrao Ambedkar – Social Thought ; Deendayal Upadhyaya – Ekatma Manav
Darshan ; Plato – Virtues ; Aristotle – Theory of Causation ; St. Anselm – Ontological Arguments for the
Existence of God ; Descartes – Method of Doubt – I Think Therefore I Am ; Spinoza – Substance Pantheism;
Leibnitz – Monad Theory, Theory of Pre-established Harmony ; Locke – Epistemology ; Berkeley – Esse est
percip ; Hume – Scepticism ; Kant- Criticism ; Hegal – Phenomenology and Spirit, Dialectical Idealism ;
Moore – Realism ; A.J. Ayar – Verification Theory ; John Dewey – Pragmatism ; Sartre – Existentialism.
Meaning of Religion, Nature of Philosophy of Religion, Religious Tolerance, Secularism, Problem of
Evil, Ethical Values and Ethical Dilemma, Ethical Elements in Administration, Honesty, Responsibility, Trans
parency, Code of Conduct for Public Servants ; Corruption – Meaning, Types, Cause and Effect, Efforts to
Remove Corruption, Relevance of Whistleblower
Philosophy – The term philosophy is made of two words
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i. Philos – love ii. Sophia – knowledge or wisdom
Thus, philosophy means love for knowledge or wisdom.
Hindi translation of the term philosophy is ‘darshan’ which means ‘to see’.
To See
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How Whom Why
(Through which ( Ultimate / supreme reality 1. Physical Enjoyment
something is to be seen) as the God or Brahma ) 2. Liberation
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(Through our external eyes) End of suffering
(Internal eye, divine eyes, intuition or consciousness)
There have been some eternal questions of human intellectualism such as, ‘What is the nature of the
world ? How and why did the world originate ? Does the world have any purpose or not ? What is the
soul? What is a creature / organism ? Is there God or not ? What is the nature of God ? What is the proof
of existence of God ? What is the ultimate goal of life ? What is the nature of existence ? What is the means
of attaining knowledge ? What is the true nature and limitations of the knowledge ? What is auspicious or
inauspicious ? What is fair or unfair ? What is the subject of moral decision ?
Philosophy tries to answer these questions systematically without resorting to emotion or belief. It
applies intellect instead.
(2)
Hence the objective of Western philosophy which is known as philosophy is to discover the truth
through intellectual curiosity.
In India, philosophy is called darshan. The word darshan is derived from the word of Sanskrit
language ‘drish’. Etymologically ‘ Drishyate iti darshanam’ says darshan is what is known or seen. Thus, the
word darshan refers to knowledge of the supreme element or supreme power.
According to another Sanskrit phrase ‘ Drishyate anen iti darshnam – that is through which known or
seen is called darshan (philosophy). Thus, the word ‘darshan’ gives perception of the means or evidences
which lead to knowledge of the supreme element.
In India philosophy is called the learning which leads to realization of the supreme element. An Indian
philosopher is not satisfied with intellectual interpretation only of the element but he seeks the perception of that
element also.
A comparative interpretation of the nature of Indian philosophy and Western
philosophy
1. Western philosophy is theoretical. Western philosophy is originated out of suprise and curiosity. A
philosopher of there has got motivated to think about the relationship between the world, God and soul with an
objective of satisfying his curiosity, which has no practical purpose at all.
Indian philosophy is practical. Here the philosophy originated out of spiritual discontent. The philoso
phers in India suffered various griefs and resorted to philosophy for their abolition.
The highest purpose of philosophy in India is to provide support in attaining salvation. Thus, philoso
phy can be seen as a means to attain salvation.
In the west philosophy is regarded as an end in itself while it is regarded as a sheer means in India.
2. Western philosophy is termed as scientific as most of the philosophers there have adopted scientific
method and resorted to scientific view to interpret the supreme power.
As there is dominance of science present in Western philosophy, the relation between philosophy and
religion is regarded opposite.
The view of Indian philosophy is religious. Indian philosophy is deeply influenced from religion. The
general aim of philosophy and religion is attainment of salvation.
3. Western philosophy is intellectual. It believes that the real and true knowledge can be attained
through intellect. But Indian philosophy is deeply influenced by spiritualism.
Indian philosophy is not satisfied with interpretation of truth only but it emphasizes on perception of
truth also.
Spiritual knowledge is higher than logical knowledge. In the logical knowledge the duality of knower
and known is present while in the spiritual knowledge the duality disappears. The spiritual knowledge is certain
and free from suspicion.
Whenever the intellect attains knowledge of something, it does so only through analysis of various
organs. Hence, the Western philosophy is analytical but Indian philosphy is of synthetic outlook for its being
perception oriented.
4. Western philosophy believes in the power of this world, whereas Indian philosophy believes in the
power of other other world in addition to this world.
According to the Western philosophy, there is no other world except this world. On the contrary in the
Indian outlook the concept of heaven and hell has been contempleted which was recognized in all philosophies
except the Charvaka philosophy.
5. The outlook of Indian philosophy is grievous and unemotional toward the life and the world. On the contrary in the
(3)
Western philosophy grievous outlook toward the life and the world is neglected and priority has been
given to emotional outlook.
Relation between Religion and Philosophy
Religion is a widespread mentality of affecting human life, which originates in consequence of faith in
supernatural power and manifested in external rituals like daily conduct and prayer, worship, austerity etc.
Therefore, the religion includes all the three aspects – based on knowledge, emotion and action.
Philosophy is the impartial, intellectual effort through which he tries to understand the life and the world
and the fundamental elements related to them or the basic questions and the fundamental beliefs in their entirety
and for this he makes logical interpretation, critical appreciation and impartial analysis of all these.
Western philosophy is termed scientific because the philosophers have adopted scientific method there
for interpretation of the supreme power. As the science dominates in the Western philosophy, the relation
between philosophy and religion is regarded to be opposite. Therefore, the religion has been neglected there.
But the Indian philosophy is deeply influenced with religion. The objective of both philosophy and
religion is practical here. Experience of liberation is a common aim of both. Being dominated with religion, an
emphasis has been made on self control in the Indian philosophy. Religious conduct is expected for realizing the
truth.
In fact, religion and philosophy are complementary to each other. Religion is beneficial for philosophy
because where philosophy is limited to the thoughts, religion receives spiritual values there in active manner. As
a matter of fact, philosophy is rendered meaningful by religion only. On the other hand, philosophy provides
intellectual basis to religion and gives it a right direction protecting it from superstition.
Relation between Philosophy and Culture
Culture is translation of Hindi word ‘Sanskriti’ which is derived of ‘Sanskar’ which means the process
of purification. Here purification means sociality, that is the system and entirety of the elements, which contrib
ute to make a person evolve as a social animal, is named as the culture.
Thus, word ‘Sanskriti’ in its broad sense includes human knowledge, faith, value, law, manners of
eating, dressing, living, appearance, language, language-literary art and music.
Characteristics of Culture –
1. Culture is a learned conduct.
2. Culture is man-made.
3. Culture is transferable.
4. Every society has a distinct culture of its own.
5. Culture is an ideal for a group.
6. Culture is capable for adaptation.
7. Culture is fundamental in building human personality.
Philosophy – Philosophy is the impartial, intellectual effort of man through which he tries to understand the
life and the world and the fundamental elements associated with them, basic questions or basic beliefs in their
entirety and he makes logical interpretation, critical appreciation and impartial analysis of all of these.
Effect of Culture on Philosophy –
1. The main philosophical stream of every country is related to its cultural atmosphere. Spirituality,
syntheticism and moral values have been the main characteristics of the Indian culture. This is the reason that life
is regarded as captive and its liberation is talked about through the moral values.
(4)
2. Usually the culture is interpreted as in entirety of the life. In this theory, the philosophy becomes a
cultural consciousness itself, that is the culture is much more vast.
3. The culture provides contemplation and study materials to the philosophy. The philosophy thinks
over art, religion, society, literature, science, etc and these all are boon of the culture.
Effect of Philosophy on Culture –
1. Philosophy is an assayist and purifier of but it does not mean that philosophy is the builder and
regulator of the culture. Philosophy is an important part of culture.
2. The culture of society or nation is built in accordance to philosophical outlook. Various philosophical
outlooks are the basis and cause of difference between various cultures such as materialistic, spiritualistic and
intellectual.
3. Philosophy tests the fundamental beliefs of the culture on parameter of logical intellect and rational
izes and strengthens its basis.
4. Philosophy works as a guide and protector of the culture. It decides its form and direction. In case
of assault on culture, it protects it highlighting its value based and constructive aspects.
To sum up, philosophy and culture are compelementary to each other. If other cultural subjects form
body of the culture, then philosophy is its intellect.