Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology

A Christian theological definition of Epistemology according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

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Epistemology

See also: Epistemology , Christianity, Body Mind and Soul

The Nyaya or Hindu logic was founded by Gautama Rishi, who is also known by the names Akshapada and Dirghatapas. The Nyaya and the Vaiseshika are analytic types of philosophy. The word Nyaya signifies going into a subject, i.e., investigating it analytically. In this sense of analysis, the word Nyaya is exactly opposed to Sankhya, synthesis. The Nyaya is sometimes called Tarka-Vidya or the Science of Debate, Vada-Vidya or the Science of Discussion. Tarka is the special feature of the Nyaya.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Nyaya: Hindu Philosophy - The Nyaya

Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC). Buddhist philosophy deals extensively with problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology. Buddhist philosophy - Introduction. Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jai ...

Including:

• Buddhist philosophy - Introduction
• Buddhist philosophy - Buddhism as philosophy?
• Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism
• Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology
• Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology
• Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration
• Buddhist philosophy - Ethics
• Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhist philosophy - Early development
• Buddhist philosophy - Later developments
• Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies
• Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

Read more here: » Buddhist philosophy: Encyclopedia - Buddhist philosophy

shad darshana: (Sanskrit) "Six views or insights; six philosophies."

Among the hundreds of Hindu darshanas known through history are six classical philosophical systems: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta.

Each was tersely formulated in sutra form by its "founder," and elaborated in extensive commentaries by other writers. They are understood as varied attempts at describing Truth and the path to it. Elements of each form part of the Hindu fabric today.

-       Nyaya: "System, rule; logic." A system of logical realism, founded sometime around 300 bce by Gautama, known for its systems of logic and epistemology and concerned with the means of acquiring right knowledge. Its tools of enquiry and rules for argumentation were adopted by all schools of Hinduism.

-       Vaisheshika: "Distinctionism." From "vishesha," differences. Philosophy founded by Kanada (ca 300 bce) teaching that liberation is to be attained through understanding the nature of existence, which is classified in nine basic realities (dravyas): earth, water, light, air, ether, time, space, soul and mind. Nyaya and Vaisheshika are viewed as a complementary pair, with Nyaya emphasizing logic, and Vaisheshika analyzing the nature of the world.

-       Sankhya: "Enumeration, reckoning." A philosophy founded by the sage Kapila (ca 500 bce), author of the Sankhya Sutras. Sankhya is primarily concerned with "categories of existence," tattvas, which it understands as 25 in number. The first two are the unmanifest purusha and the manifest primal nature, prakriti - the male-female polarity, viewed as the foundation of all existence. Prakriti, out of which all things evolve, is the unity of the three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. Sankhya and Yoga are considered an inseparable pair whose principles permeate all of Hinduism.

-       See: prakriti, purusha.

-       Yoga: "Yoking; joining." Ancient tradition of philosophy and practice codified by Patanjali (ca 200 bce) in the Yoga Sutras. It is also known as raja yoga, "king of yogas," or ashtanga yoga, "eight-limbed yoga." Its object is to achieve, at will, the cessation of all fluctuations of consciousness, and the attainment of Self Realization. Yoga is wholly dedicated to putting the high philosophy of Hinduism into practice, to achieve personal transformation through transcendental experience, samadhi.

-       See: yoga.

-       Mimamsa: "Inquiry" (or Purva, "early," Mimamsa). Founded by Jaimini (ca 200 bce), author of the Mimamsa Sutras, who taught the correct performance of Vedic rites as the means to salvation.

-       Vedanta (or Uttara "later" Mimamsa): "End (or culmination) of the Vedas." For Vedanta, the main basis is the Upanishads and Aranyakas (the "end," anta, of the Vedas), rather than the hymns and ritual portions of the Vedas. The teaching of Vedanta is that there is one Absolute Reality, Brahman. Man is one with Brahman, and the object of life is to realize that truth through right knowledge, intuition and personal experience. The Vedanta Sutras (or Brahma Sutras) were composed by Rishi Badarayana (ca 400 bce).

See: Brahma Sutra, padartha, tattva, Vedanta, yoga.

(See also: Shad darshana , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of existence, truth and knowledge. It incorporates ontology (the science/nature of true being) and epistemology (the study of the origin, methods and limits of knowledge). The student of metaphysics is interested in first causes, the nature of "reality" and in what lies beyond the sensory world. Metaphysics will never be accepted as an integrated science by scientists because it does deal with subjective territory, with events that do not fit perfectly within our present prescripts of comprehension. Indeed, it will not become indefectible and conclusive until the evolution of man-woman is consummated.

Read more here: » Metaphysics: The Chemistry Of Metaphysics

The recent killings in the land of the Mahatma, the apostle of peace and non- violence, raises a very serious question. Is human consciousness being governed by the tenets of a few religious texts or is it capable of transcending all barriers for the sake of universal brotherhood?

Christians have killed Jews. Jews and Muslims are fighting all the time. Hindus have a long history of wars going back to the time of the Mahabharata. Despite the advancement of science, people continue to fight on national, religious or racial criteria.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Channel Destructive

Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC). Buddhist philosophy deals extensively with problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology. Buddhist philosophy - Introduction. Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jai ...

Including:

• Buddhist philosophy - Introduction
• Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism
• Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology
• Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology
• Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration
• Buddhist philosophy - Ethics
• Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhist philosophy - Early development
• Buddhist philosophy - Later developments
• Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies
• Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

Read more here: » Buddhist philosophy

Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology. Decisive in distinguishing Buddhism from what is commonly called Hinduism is the issue of epistemological justification. The schools of Indian logic recognize a certain set of valid justifications for knowledge, while Buddhism recognizes a smaller set. Both accept perception and argument, for example, but for the orthodox schools (of Hinduism), the received textual tradition (e.g., the Vedas) is in itself an epistemological category equal to perception and argument (although th ...

See also:

Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist philosophy - Introduction, Buddhist philosophy - Buddhism as philosophy?, Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology, Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology, Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration, Buddhist philosophy - Ethics, Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist philosophy - Early development, Buddhist philosophy - Later developments, Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies, Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

Read more here: » Buddhist philosophy: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism

Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic From its inception, Buddhism has had a strong philosophical component. Buddhism is founded on the rejection of certain orthodox philosophical concepts, in which the Buddha had been instructed by various teachers. Buddhism rejects a ...

See also:

Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist philosophy - Introduction, Buddhist philosophy - Buddhism as philosophy?, Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology, Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology, Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration, Buddhist philosophy - Ethics, Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist philosophy - Early development, Buddhist philosophy - Later developments, Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies, Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

Read more here: » Buddhist philosophy: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist philosophy - Introduction

Buddhist philosophy - Early development. The philosophical outlook of Earliest Buddhism was primarily negative, in the sense that it focused on what doctrines to reject more than on what doctrines to accept. This dimension has been preserved by the Madhyamaka school. It includes critical rejections of all views, which is a form of philosophy, but it is reluctant to posit its own. Only knowledge that is useful in achieving enlightenment is valued. The cycle of philosophical upheavals that in part dro ...

See also:

Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist philosophy - Introduction, Buddhist philosophy - Buddhism as philosophy?, Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology, Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology, Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration, Buddhist philosophy - Ethics, Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist philosophy - Early development, Buddhist philosophy - Later developments, Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies, Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

Read more here: » Buddhist philosophy: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy