(a) Write the names of the heterodox or non-Vedic schools of Indian Philosophy.
The heterodox (Nastika) schools are Carvaka, Jainism, and Buddhism.
(b) From which root verb the word 'Darsana' has been derived?
The word 'Darsana' is derived from the Sanskrit root verb 'Drs', which means 'to see'.
(c) Write the names of those orthodox schools which do not believe in the existence of God.
The orthodox (Astika) schools that traditionally do not believe in a personal creator God are Samkhya and Mimamsa.
(d) What do you mean by 'Rta' in Indian Philosophy?
'Rta' refers to the cosmic and moral order of the universe, a concept primarily found in the Vedas.
(e) How many orthodox schools are there in Indian Philosophy?
There are six orthodox schools (Saddarsana).
Name the orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy.
The six orthodox schools are: Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta.
What do you mean by law of Karma in Indian Philosophy?
The law of Karma is the principle of moral causation where every action produces a corresponding effect on the doer, shaping their future experiences.
What is Indian Philosophy? Give a brief sketch of nine schools of Indian Philosophy. Discuss any four common characteristics of Indian Philosophy.
Definition: Indian Philosophy is the intellectual exploration into the nature of reality and the human soul, aimed at spiritual liberation.
The Nine Schools:
Common Characteristics:
Explain the Upanisadic concept of Atman / Self in Indian Philosophy.
In the Upanisads, Atman is the innermost essence of the individual, which is identical to Brahman, the ultimate reality of the universe.
"Tat Tvam Asi" (That Thou Art) represents the core of this identity. Atman is described as Sat (Existence), Cit (Consciousness), and Ananda (Bliss).(a) Which non-Vedic school of Indian Philosophy is regarded as pure materialistic?
The Carvaka school is regarded as pure materialistic.
(b) Does Carvaka believe in the existence of Soul?
No, Carvaka denies the existence of an eternal soul.
(c) How does the material body compose of, according to Carvaka school?
It is composed of the four elements: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
(d) Does Jaina school have a single founder?
No, Jainism has a lineage of 24 Tirthankaras.
(e) How many elements are there according to Carvaka Philosophy?
There are four elements: Ksiti (Earth), Ap (Water), Tejas (Fire), and Marut (Air).
What is the ethical position of Carvaka school?
The ethical position is Hedonism, which emphasizes the pursuit of maximum sensual pleasure in the present life ("Eat, drink, and be merry").
How many great vows or Mahavratas are there in Jaina Philosophy? Name them.
There are five Mahavratas: Ahimsa (Non-violence), Satya (Truth), Asteya (Non-stealing), Brahmacharya (Celibacy), and Aparigraha (Non-attachment).
Critically explain Carvaka Metaphysics.
Carvaka Metaphysics is known as Dehavada or Bhutavada. They believe that only matter is real. [span_25](start_span)Consciousness is an accidental product of the combination of the four material elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air), just as red color is produced by chewing betel leaf and lime.[span_25](end_span)
Explain briefly the theory of relativity (Syadvada) of Jainism.
Syadvada states that all knowledge is relative (Sapeksa). Since reality is manifold (Anekantavada), every judgment is true only from a certain standpoint. No single view can capture the complete truth.
What is perception (Pratyaksa) according to Nyaya system? Explain the classification of perception according to the Naiyayikas.
Nyaya defines perception as knowledge arising from the contact of senses with objects (Indriyarthasannikarsa).
Classification:
What is meant by Padartha or category in Vaisesika Philosophy? Explain Vaisesika category of Visesa (particularity).
Padartha refers to "the meaning of a word" or an object of knowledge.
Visesa (Particularity): It is the category that differentiates eternal substances (atoms) from each other. It is the ultimate ground of distinction in the universe.
(a) Who is the founder of Samkhya Philosophy?
The founder is Sage Kapila.
(b) Who wrote Samkhya Karika?
Isvarakrsna wrote the Samkhya Karika.
(c) On which part of the Vedas, Vedanta school is based on?
It is based on the Upanisads, which are the concluding parts of the Vedas.
(d) What is the main subject matter of Vedanta Philosophy?
The main subject is the nature of Brahman and the relation between Atman and Brahman.
(e) Who wrote Vedanta Sutra or Brahma Sutra?
Badarayana wrote the Brahma Sutra.
How many ultimate realities are there in Samkhya Philosophy? Name them.
There are two ultimate realities: Purusa (Pure Consciousness) and Prakrti (Primal Matter).
Explain critically the Sankhya's theory of evolution.
Evolution in Samkhya is the result of the contact between Purusa and Prakrti. Prakrti, which is inert, begins to evolve when Purusa reflects upon it. The order of evolution is: Prakrti → Mahat (Intellect) → Ahamkara (Ego) → Manas (Mind), Senses, and the material world.
Explain the nature of Brahman in Sankara's Advaita Vedanta.
According to Sankara, Brahman is the only reality (Brahma Satyam). It is Nirguna (without attributes), impersonal, and non-dual. The world is an appearance (Maya). Brahman is described as Sat-Cit-Ananda.