INDIAN

PHILOSOP
HICAL
SYSTEMS
1. Indian Philosophy is diverse in
nature.
2. The major schools of Indian
Philosophy were formalized between
1000 BC to early centuries AD.
3. Competition and integration among
different schools was intense during
800 BC to 200 AD.
Concept of Darana
1. Indian Philosophy includes Shad
Darana , Jaina Darana , Buddha
Darana and Crvka Darana.
2. It refers to that through the
instrumentality of which something is
to be seen.
3. This function can be performed by
both external as well as internal
eyes.
divine eyes (divya caksu),
1. The term Darana includes
arguments for and against the
existence of contradictory elements.
For example Concrete and
abstract concepts , gross and subtle
objects etc.
2. It contains metaphysics, religion
and ethics.
Significance Of The Vedas
1. Indian Philosophical systems trace their
origin in Vedas.
2. On the basis of belief in Vedas, Indian
philosophical systems are divided into 2
major types -
a. stika schools of philosophy - Orthodox
schools of philosophy. stika schools
believe in the authority of Vedas. stika
schools are further divided on the basis of
independent origin , jnana kanda ,
karma kanda etc.
b. Nstika schools of philosophy -
The division is as follows -

Nstika
stika
BasedEmphasizing
on Vedas on jnana kanda (
Indian Philosophical Systems
 COMMON
CHARACTERISTI
CS OF INDIAN
PHILOSOPHICAL
SYSTEMS
 Indian Philosophy is characterized by a
fundamental unity. Following are the
common characteristics of Indian
philosophical systems:

1. Spiritual Orientation: Indian Philosophy is

spiritual and believes in the reality of the soul
and seeks to realise it in its true form.The
realisation of the soul has been the common
goal of all Indian Philosophical schools.

2. Closeness To Life: Indian Philosophy is close

to life.It has a higher and profounder aim in
view.It wants to tackle the ultimate problems
of life.
3. Spiritual Dissatisfaction: Indian philosophers
were not content with merely mundane
pursuits. Indian Philosophy owes its origin to the
discontent of the spirit with merely temporal life.It
aims at a divine transformation of life.

4. Liberation - The Ultimate End: Indian

Philosophies differ in details as to the conception of
liberation. They unanimously hold that liberation
enables a man to free himself from the shackles
of ignorance and from the bondage of misery.

5. Ignorance - The Root Cause Of Bondage: That

misery and bondage are the offspring of human
ignorance is the common corenerstone of all
philosophical schools of India.
yoga as a prerequisite for getting freadom
from psychological and spiritual
ignorance.

7. Psychological basis: Indian philosophers

have minutely explained human
psychology.From Buddha down to Patanjali,
Ramajuna, all teachers emphasized the
psychological aspect of philosophy.

8. Synthesis Of Religion And Philosophy:

The transformation of life and
emancipation from misery constitute the
common goal of both philosophy and religion.

9. Intellectualism: Indian philosophical

systems seek truth in their own
Rta in the Vedas. According to it, gods,
living beings and plants all move in
accordance with one universal moral
pattern.

11. Faith in Karma: Indian philosophers

believe in the Theory of Karma. According
to it,the result of actions are always with us
in the form of impressions and they direct
the course of our life. And Liberation is
nothing but emancipation from the
bondage of Karma.

12. Faith in rebirth: The Theory of Karma and

that of Rebirth go hand in hand.Due to the
bondage of Karma, human soul has to be
reborn in different bodies.Liberation frees a
13. Synthetic Approach: The Indian philosophers
had a synthetic approach and they never laid
exclusive emphasis on any single aspect of
human life.Though recommending individual spiritual
practice, they yet kept universal welfare in view.

14. Faith in the past: Indian philosophical systems

have a common faith in Vedas, The Gita and The
Upanishads. This faith in ancient wisdom accounts
for a particular order,which one finds in all the Indian
philosophical systems. But it cannot be equated
with blind faith in Scriptures.

15. Dynamism: Indian philosophical systems are

dynamic. When one particular system of
philosophy became very popular, it was
countered by some other system.
 CHARGES
AGAINST
INDIAN
PHILOSOPHY
 1. PESSIMISM
1. Because western scholars are unaware of the
real nature and profound undertones of
Indian Philosophy and so they have an
erroneous conception about Indian
Philosophy.
2. They find it to be pessimistic.
3. Chailey in his book Administrative
Problems declares that Indian Philosophy
springs from lassitude and a desire for
eternal rest.
4. Pessimism denotes a peculiar mental
outlook. For a pessimist, the world is
nothing but a place full of misery.
 Indian philosophy is pessimistic
1. It originates in dissatisfaction with the present
conditions of materialistic world.
2. This world is fraught with innumerable hardships and
man is embroiled in the vicious circle of
enjoyment(bhoga) and impressions(saskra).
3. Thus man never gets tranquility of soul and
equanimity of mind.
4. This sort of pessimism is indispensable for progress
of life.
5. Prof. Bosanquet says I believe in optimism, but I add
that no optimism is worth its salt that does not go
all the way with pessimism and arrive at a point
beyond it. This I am convinced is the true spirit of life
and if any one thinks it dangerous and an excuse for
unjustifiable acquiescence in evil, I reply that all truth
which has any touch of thoroughness has its
danger for practice
 Indian Philosophy Is
Optimistic
1. Optimistic about the ultimate goal of life.
2. Aims at liberation, which is not an escape
from or an end of life. Rather it is
transformation of life.
3. Enables man to save himself from the dire
agonies and delusions of the world and
to lead a life of everlasting bliss after
realizing his true self.
4. Felicity not sorrow is the aim of
spirituality.
5. In the words of Dr. Radhakrishnan, Indian
thinkers are pessimistic in so far as they
 2. Dogmatism
1. Scriptures are generally regarded as an authoritative
source of knowledge. The Vedas, Upanishads and the
Gita have been quoted so often by Indian philosophers
that it has led many western scholars to lay the charge
of dogmatism on Indian Philosophy.
2. Faith in the Veda must not be misconstrued as
dogmatism.
3. Even if Indian Philosophy has had a long chequered
history and has undergone many a vicissitude, it has
had its dark periods too, when the soul of philosophy
was well nigh crushed under the dead weight of hair-
splitting pettifoggery and scholastic controversies ;
these were invariably followed by a strong reaction
and the spiritual thought was soon freed from
dogmatism.
 3. Negation Of Ethics
1. According to Farquhar, There is practically no ethical
philosophy within the frontiers of Hindu thinking.
2. Ethics has not been allotted paramount pedestal in Indian
Philosophy as spirituality is considered superior to
ethics and religion. The liberated person has
transcended ethical barriers.
3. But it has also not overlooked ethics. For example a
person who has attained perfection in the spiritual field
rises above the moral conflicts. But before this
attainment, ethical considerations are necessary
according to all Indian philosophical systems.
4. Jaina, Buddha, Vedanta and Samkhya explain different
ethical principles in detail.
5. Thus Indian philosophy gives proper, though not
paramount, place to ethics.
1. It is said that Indian Philosophy is bogged
down by old ruts.
2. But the mere fact that all Indian philosophers
have based their thoughts upon The
Upanishads and The Gita does not expose it to
this charge of unprogressiveness.
3. The truths with which philosophy deals are
eternal and they are comprehended by
intuition. They do not change in the wake of
scientific progress.
4. Hence The Gita and The Upanishads are as
inspiring today as they were ever before.
5. But Indian philosophers are progressive as
they put these philosophical truths in new
forms according to the change in time
1. Even if there were periods in the history of Indian
Philosophy when its pace was very slow or even
arrested for a while, in a panoramic view of the
stream of Indian Philosophy, one finds it on the whole
dynamic and moving.
2. The philosophers of different philosophical schools like
Jaina, Buddha, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga
and Vedanta have not only put forth their own
theories but also refuted the theories of their
opponents.
3. The history of these different schools is in itself an
eloquent testimony to the essentially progressive
nature of Indian philosophy.
4. Most of the allegations against Indian Philosophy are,
thus, one-sided and fallacious.
5. It is heartening to know that now most of them have
been refuted.