From the beginning of civilization, people want to know the world and life, and the attempt to know this is philosophy. It is possible to explain the values, beliefs and ideals by which people guide their lives and establish these on philosophical foundations.
When Indian philosophy was developed is impossible to pinpoint. Indian philosophers have been involved in spiritual thought since ancient times, according to those who study Indian philosophy. In those days, meeting one’s daily requirements was easy, as one could obtain whatever one needed from the natural world without jeopardising one’s ability to live in solidarity. Indian philosophy has evolved since then to be based on several schools.
ORTHODOX SCHOOLS
1. SAMKHYA PHILOSOPHY
Samkhya philosophy is the oldest philosophy in Indian philosophy. Kapil Muni is the proponent of this philosophy. This philosophy is also mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Gita. Sankhya philosophy is dualism, where two main entities are recognized: Purusha and Prakriti.
Purusha means self (soul). This soul is different from the body, senses, and intellect.
Prakriti is unconscious and mindless. The expression of the world is created from the ineffable source that is Prakriti. Prakriti has three gunas: Sattva, Rajah, and Tamah.
2. YOGA PHILOSOPHY
Patanjali is the founder of yoga philosophy. The word yoga means restraint of mind. Yogasutra is divided into four chapters namely Samadhipada, Sadhanapada, Vibhutipada, Kaivalyapada.
Yoga philosophy refers to the eightfold path, namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.
3. NYAYA PHILOSOPHY
Sage Gautama was the originator of Nyaya philosophy. Many modern thinkers call Nyaya Philosophy Logical Realism. The purpose of Nyaya philosophy is not limited to prescribing a method of rational thought, but other philosophers have accepted moksha as the ultimate goal of life.
According to Nyaya philosophy, there are two types of knowledge namely true knowledge (Prama) and false knowledge(Aprama).
4. VAISHESHIKA
One of the six main schools of Indian philosophy, known as Darshanas, is Vaisheshika. About the second century BCE, the sage Kanada, also called Kashyapa, founded it. The Vaisheshika school focuses on metaphysics and epistemology in an effort to comprehend the nature of knowledge and reality.
The Sanskrit word “vishesha,” which meaning distinctive or unique, is the source of the name “Vaisheshika”. Because it places a strong emphasis on analysing certain entities or substances (padarthas) and their properties, the school got its name.
Despite developing apart, the Vaisheshika system and Hinduism’s Nyaya philosophy eventually became comparable and are frequently studied together. The Vaisheshika school, on the other hand, was fundamentally different from the Nyaya in that it recognised just two sources of legitimate knowledge, as opposed to the Nyāya’s acceptance of four.
Perception and inference are the only two trustworthy methods of knowledge recognised by the Vaisheṣhika school of Hinduism.
a) PADARTHAS
The Vaisheshika school holds that all that is cognized and able to be named are padarthas, or the objects of experience (literally, the meaning of a word).Six criteria can be used to group all objects of experience: visheṣa (particularity), guṇa (quality), karma (activity), samanya (generality), and samavaya (inherence). Later, the Vaisheshika (Udayana, Sivaditya, and Sridhara) added the category of abhava (non-existence).
b) ATOMISM
A paramanu (atom), in the Vaisheshika school of thought, is an unbreakable unit of matter. Because it is a state to which no measurement can be applied, the atom is indivisible. To ascertain the atoms’ characteristics, they employed invariance arguments. Furthermore, it was mentioned that atom can exist in two different states: complete rest and mobility.
5. PURVA MIMAMSA
One Of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu philosophy, Purva Mimamsa is commonly referred to as Mimamsa. The primary emphasis is on interpreting and comprehending the older sections of the Vedas, namely the ceremonial elements seen in the Samhitas and Brahmanas. As “Purva” means “prior” or “earlier,” Purva Mimamsa addresses the earliest sections of the Vedas.
Purva Mimamsa’s salient characteristics are Rituals are emphasized (Karma Kanda), The Vedas’ authority, The Mimamsa Sutras of Hermeneutics, Idea of Dharma, the significance of Yajna (sacrifice), and criticism of other schools.
6. VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY
One of the six mainstream schools of Hindu philosophy, Uttara Mimamsa, or Vedanta, has its origins in the ancient Vedic literature. “Uttara” denotes later or following, and “Mimamsa” implies inquiry or research. This suggests that Uttara Mimamsa addresses the latter section of the Vedas, namely the Upanishads.
The epistemology of Vedanta, particularly in the Advaita (non-dualistic) tradition, is deeply intertwined with its ontology and metaphysics. This is a synopsis of the Vedic epistemological framework: Pratyaksha (Perception) ,Anumana (Inference) ,Shabda (Scriptural Testimony), Anumana (Deduction), Anupalabdha (Ignorance) ,Arthapatti (Supplement), Upamana, or analogy or comparison.
UNORTHODOX SCHOOLS
1. CHARVAKA PHILOSOPHY
Charvak philosophy is materialist philosophy. Charvak philosophy is said to be a protestant philosophy with respect to the Indian concept of meditation. The doctrine of the Charvaka is essentially against Vedic ideas. The skepticism that arises in the minds of rational people about the eternal beliefs of the common Indian about the soul, God, etc., is thus expressed in the Charvaka philosophy. It is also called Lakayata philosophy, as the problems and attitudes of common people are discussed in Charvaka philosophy.
The essence of Charvaka philosophy is physical happiness or sensual happiness. Charvak philosophers expressed the view that all human beings are equally entitled to happiness or joy.
2. BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY
Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhist philosophy, did not practice philosophy himself. He did not accept the necessity of Vedic activities but shed light on the essentials of human life.
This philosophy is based on the four noble truths: everything is sad, there is a reason for sadness, it is possible to prevent sadness, and there is a way to prevent sadness
The eightfold path to avoid the sufferings of life is indicated in this philosophy.
Buddhist philosophy speaks of Pratitya Samutpada, which means that there is a cause behind every action.
3. JAIN PHILOSOPHY
The Jain religion’s ancient Indian intellectual system is known as Jain philosophy, or Jaina philosophy. It includes all of the philosophical studies and inquiry systems that arose among the early Jain branches in ancient India after Mahavira’s parinirvāṇa. The dualistic metaphysics of Jain philosophy, which maintains that there are two separate kinds of existence—the non-living, material entities (ajiva) and the living, conscious, or sentient beings (jiva)—is one of its primary characteristics.
Three interrelated theories—the theory of many-sidedness, syadvada (the theory of conditioned prediction), and nayavada (the theory of partial standpoints)—that address the intricate and multifaceted character of knowledge are included in Jain epistemology. “Jain doctrines of relativity” is how Long refers to these three.
SOURCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_philosophy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jain_philosophy