Indian and Western Philosophy: A Comparative Study

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In this book, deal with many cases of thematic and methodical combinations between Indian and Western philosophical ideas to ensure that there is an Indian philosophy with the same expectations and there are strong like Western philosophy. Thus it is possible to conclude that "the rationality and character of the mind's independence" is not Western thought, but only "universal philosophical thought" in opposition to "Indian ideas of religion and irrationality".

S.K. KADVEKAR, former Head and Chair Professor (Honorary) at the Department of Philosophy, University of Pune has been in academics for the last four decades. He received his Ph.D. in Commerce from University of Pune. He worked as Principal for, Science and Commerce Colleges and Director Institute of Management under the aegis of University of Pune and Bharati Vidyapeeth Universities.

Indian Philosophy is one of the most ancient philosophical traditions. Some would say it is the most ancient one, for we have only very rudimentary records of the philosophical legacy of ancient Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations which rather preceded Indian and Chinese civilizational paradigms. Chinese philosophy is as ancient as the Indian philosophy. However, Chinese philosophical interpretations were more anchored on ethical, political and social issue rather than on theological, cosmological, eschatological and teleological concerns. Indian philosophical tradition has been, historically speaking, an ongoing enterprise and it continues to be a live and vibrant approach to such abiding philosophical issues as God, Universe and Man.
Indian philosophy is multi-dimensional and multi versional. It is both religious and secular, theistic and atheistic, materialistic and idealistic, proVedic and anti-Vedic or Astik and Nastik. We cannot tabulate or summarize a set of problems as representing the entire philosophical body corpus of India. However, by way of illustration we can say that such issues as God, Universe Man, Matter, Mind, Consciousness, Sprit, Reality, Values Knowledge, Beauty, Karma, Casualty, Space, Time etc. have always been at the heart of Indian Philosophical discourse. The earliest philosophical speculations have been registered in Vedic Texts such as Rig Veda, Sama Veda Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. These earliest scriptures of India have determined or oriented the subsequent intellectual and cultural evolution of Indian peninsula. The Hindus of India have been believing these scriptures to be the Ultimate repository of Truth. They are believed to be revelations vouchsafed to ancient seers called rishis. They embody the perennial beliefs and values of life and most importantly they lead to liberation of man from the cycle of birth and rebirth; the summum bonum according to Indian ethical or teleological standpoint.