Fall 2005

ANS 384 • India's Nonconformist Thinkers

Course Description

This course introduces Indian philosophy by focusing on the opponents of the mainstream and by examining the subversive challenge of their thought. Drawing on the dissenting voices, the course reconstructs a picture of debate and exchange. Other disciplines are also included such as tantra, yoga and medicine that adopt philosophical systems (Sankhya) and appropriate them as their own. The starting position examined is that of the Sankhya philosophy with special reference to its immediate opponents, the Buddhists, Jains, etc. Although the Sankhya has been embraced by the mainstream brahmanical tradition, it was not always part of it. The novel approach of this course relies on viewing the brahmanical tradition through the eyes of its opponents. Thereby we can gain a more comprehensive picture of the intellectual millieu. The course will also include non-conformist thinkers of more recent times, such as Gandhi, his grandson Ramchandra Gandhi, and Daya Krishna.

Texts

Hamilton, Sue. Indian Philosophy. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, 2001. King, Richard. Indian Philosophy An Introduction To Hindu And Buddhist Thought. Edinburgh, 1999. Warder, A.K. A Course in Indian Philosophy. Delhi 1998. Daya Krishna. Indian Philosophy. A Counter Perspective. Oxford, 1991. Gandhi, Ramchandra. Language, Tradition, and Modern Civilization. Poone, 1983. Ganeri, Jonardon. Indian Logic. A Reader. Curzon, 2001. Halbfass, Wilhelm. Tradition and Reflection. Exploration in Indian Thought. SUNY 1991.

back