The Philosophical Traditions of India

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Philosophical Traditions of India
Author: P. T. Raju (Poolla Tirupati Raju)
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Place of Publication: Delhi, India
Publication: 2009 reprint
First Indian Edition: 1992
Originally Published: George Allen & Unwin, 1971
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
Pagination: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 81-208-0983-1
ISBN-13: 978-81-208-0983-3

Description

P. T. Raju’s The Philosophical Traditions of India is a systematic introduction to the principal schools and conceptual structures of Indian philosophy. Written for students and readers approaching the subject without prior knowledge of Sanskrit, it explains complex metaphysical, epistemological and ethical ideas in clear language while preserving their philosophical substance.

Raju begins with the nature and historical development of Indian thought and its foundations in the Vedas and Upaniṣads. He then examines the Mīmāṃsā, Cārvāka, Jain, Buddhist, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Sāṃkhya, Yoga and Vedānta traditions, together with the philosophical significance of the Indian epics and ethical codes.

Rather than treating Indian philosophy as a single religious system, the book emphasizes the diversity of its intellectual traditions and the importance of logic, metaphysics, epistemology and theories of action. Comparisons with Western philosophy are introduced where they clarify the discussion without imposing Western categories upon Indian thought.

A bibliography, glossary of Sanskrit terms and detailed index enhance the book’s usefulness as a reference and teaching resource. It is suitable for collections in Indian philosophy, comparative philosophy, Hindu studies, Buddhist studies, Jain studies and South Asian intellectual history.

Condition

This copy has been physically checked and is in excellent condition. It has been preserved on our shelves in a protective plastic cover. Please review the photographs for the condition of the actual copy being offered.

Contents

Preface
Note on the Pronunciation of Sanskrit Words
Nature and Development of Indian Thought
The Vedas and Other Sources
The Central Ideas of the Upaniṣads
The Activist Tradition and the Mīmāṃsā
The Materialistic Tradition of the Cārvākas
The Heterodox Tradition of Jainism
The Heterodox Tradition of Buddhism
The Logical Tradition of the Nyāya
The Pluralistic Tradition of the Vaiśeṣika
The Dualistic Tradition of the Sāṃkhya
The Yoga Tradition of Patañjali
The Vedānta and the Monistic Tradition of the Spirit
The Epics and the Ethical Codes
The Traditions and Contemporary Trends
Bibliography
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms
Index