Lecture Notes on Indian Philosophy - CD Sharma

Overview of the Lecture

• Focus on CD Sharma's chapters related to Indian philosophy.
• Importance of aligning study with the UPSC syllabus and previous year questions (PYQs).

Key Concepts from Previous Chapters

• Philosophical Terms:
  • Metaphysics: Study of the nature of reality.
  • Epistemology: Study of knowledge and belief.
  • Ethics: Study of moral principles.

Chapters in CD Sharma

• Not in Syllabus:

  • Chapter 1: Vasistha
  • Chapter 2: Bhagavad Gita

• In Syllabus:

  • Chapter 3: Materialism (Charvak School)
  • Jism (Early Buddhism)
  • Shad Vidhya (Six Schools)
  • Sankhya Yoga
  • Pre-Shankara Vedanta (not required)
  • Shankara Vedanta (required)
  • Ramanuja Vedanta (required)
  • Other schools of Vedanta (not required)

• Not Required:

  • Shiva and Shakti schools
  • Post-Shankara Vedanta
  • Buddhism and Vedanta (limited information)

Focus on Charvak School

• Theory of Knowledge:
  • Relates to epistemology and rejection of transcendent entities (metaphysical stance of Charvak School).
  • Ethics of the school is not part of the syllabus.

Reading Strategy for CD Sharma

• First Reading: Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorization.
• Subsequent Readings: Aim to remember key points and philosophers.
• Language Challenge: The text is dense and assumes prior knowledge of philosophy.

Materialism in Indian Philosophy

• Definition of Materialism:

  • Common Language: Belief that material possessions are most important.
  • Metaphysical Perspective: No transcendent reality, everything consists of matter.

• Historical Context:

  • Materialism seen as a response to the ritualistic Brahmanism and societal conditions of the time.
  • Significant figures: Brhaspati (traditional founder), Charvak (chief disciple).

• Charvak Characteristics:

  • No original texts exist; views mainly derived from critiques by other schools.
  • Descriptions include terms like 'heretic' and 'fool', indicating a negative portrayal.

• Philosophical Challenges:

  • Critiques are often exaggerated, presenting a limited view of the school.
  • Few references exist in historical texts, making it hard to form a complete understanding.

Important Reference Works

• Sadarshan Sra:
  • Written by Madhava, summarizes various philosophies including Charvak.

Conclusion

• The study of Charvak and materialism requires an understanding of both the historical context and philosophical underpinnings.
• Follow along with the syllabus and PYQs for efficient preparation.