Prof Kapil Kapoor on Shad Darshanas: Understanding India's Six Schools of Philosophy

Prof Kapil Kapoor reveals the profound intellectual architecture of India's six orthodox philosophical systems (Shad Darshanas) and their epistemological foundations. Discover the fundamental distinction between Darshana and Western philosophy, and learn how Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta address existence, knowledge, and liberation. Prof Kapoor, former Professor of Linguistics at JNU and authority on Indian knowledge traditions, systematically unpacks Pramanas (means of knowledge) while exposing the collaborative-confrontational relationship between Sanatan, Buddhist, and Jain schools.

Key Points:
Comprehensive introduction to Shad Darshanas and their classification
Epistemological distinction between Indian Darshana and Western philosophy
Six Pramanas: Pratyaksha, Anumana, Upamana, Arthapatti, Anupalabdhi, Shabda
Three sampradayas (Sanatan, Buddhist, Jain) and their ontological differences
Nyaya-Vaisheshika's materialist approach to Padaarth (objects of existence)
Sankhya-Yoga's psychological framework for understanding mind and Jagat
Mimamsa-Vedanta's exploration of Dharma and Brahman
Indian oral tradition and Sutra literature as knowledge preservation
References to Madhavacharya's Sarvadarshan Sangraha
Purushartha framework: Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha


About the Speaker:
Currently, Prof Kapoor is
Member - PM's 75th year Amrut Mahotsav Committee
Member Exec Council - NMML (Now PMML)

Member, High Level Committee, IKS, Ministry of Education

And Chairman - Editorial Committee, Indian Historical Records Committee, National Archives

Formerly Prof Kapoor was:
Chairman - IIAS
Pro VC - JNU
Chairman, MHRD, Language Expert Committee
Professor of English in JNU and where he also established the Centre for Sanskrit Studies


Books recommended by Speaker in this discussion:
1. Bharatiya Darshan by Acharya Baldev Upadhyaya: https://archive.org/details/Bharatiya...

2. Madhavacharya's Philosophy: https://archive.org/details/Sarva-Dar...

Topics covered
00:00:13 Introduction: Professor Kapil Kapoor's Distinguished Academic Background
00:01:43 Understanding Shad Darshanas: Initial Framework and Dr. Raj Vedam's Diagram
00:02:27 Six Pramanas: Pratyaksha, Anumana, Upamana, Arthapatti, Anupalabdhi, Shabda
00:03:46 Darshana vs Philosophy: Fundamental Conceptual Distinction
00:05:29 Essential Reading: Two Master Texts for Understanding Indian Philosophy
00:07:22 Sutra Literature: Thread of Knowledge in Indian Oral Tradition
00:10:52 Three Sampradayas: Sanatan, Buddhist, and Jain Schools of Thought
00:14:18 Bharatiya Darshan by Baldev Upadhyay: Comprehensive Survey Text
00:18:33 Madhavacharya's Sarvadarshan Sangraha: 16 Philosophical Systems Explained
00:24:00 Charvaka Materialism: Ethical Materialism in Indian Thought
00:29:24 Natural Tendencies: Material vs Spiritual Vritti in Human Nature
00:32:18 Western Philosophy's Six Branches: From Metaphysics to Psychology
00:40:55 Purushartha Framework: Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha as Life Goals
00:47:12 Nyaya-Vaisheshika: Padaarth Vaada and Material Reality
00:52:30 Sankhya-Yoga: Psychology and Mind's Understanding of Jagat
00:56:08 Epistemology Explained: Gyan ka Pramana and Validation of Knowledge
01:00:30 Logic as Instrument: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Systems
01:03:15 Counting Indian Systems: From Nyaya-Vaisheshika to Mimamsa-Vedanta

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