Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy of Consciousness

by Ranjan Kumar Panda (Editor)

Overview

This book exclusively deals with the study of consciousness in Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy. Samkhya-Yoga is two allied philosophical systems in which consciousness is the focal point of discussion. The book investigates consciousness from metaphysical, epistemological and ethical or normative perspectives. Concepts such as Duhkha (suffering), Purusa (consciousness), Chitta (self/the mental), chittavrti (mental modification), Prakrti and Trigunas (nature and its attributes) are critically discussed to reconstruct the metaphysics of consciousness. All the chapters have contemporary relevance as they delve into the nature of causation and provide an all-inclusive viewpoint of consciousness by emphasizing its normative perspective. The contributions in the book are from eminent scholars working in the field of consciousness and other related topics such as cognition, mind, causality, knowledge and liberation. The book provides a comprehensive viewpoint of consciousness by emphasizing its normative perspective concerning the notion of engaged selfhood for jivanmukta. It is an invaluable resource for contemporary readers in the field of philosophy of mind across Indian and Western philosophy traditions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789819649433
Publisher:	Springer Nature Singapore
Publication date:	06/15/2025
Pages:	229
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ranjan Kumar Panda is a Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Bombay. He specializes in philosophy of mind and consciousness studies. He has authored a book titled Mind, Language and Intentionality (2008), edited another two volumes titled Language, Mind and Reality: A Reflection on Philosophical Thoughts of R. C. Pradhan (2015) and, Self-Knowledge and Moral Identity (2023). He presented research papers on consciousness at national and international conferences in India and abroad. His papers have been published in either refereed journals or edited books. He is the founder and member of the Tattvanveshi Philosophical Society, which conducts lecture series, book discussions and workshops under the name Forum for Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Note on Sāṃkhya-Yoga Philosophy of Consciousness.- Consciousness and Mind in Sāṃkhya and Yoga.- The Sāṃkhya Metaphysics of Consciousness: The Cosmic vs. the Individual Consciousness.- Is Puruṣa a Contentless Consciousness in Classical Sānkhya.- Puruṣa as Witness Consciousness in Sāṃkhya Philosophy: Some Observations.- Can There be Defunct Consciousness in Sāṃkhya.- Sāṃkhya Concept of Intentional Consciousness.- Sāṃkhya, Tri-Guṇas, and Psychology.- The Hermeneutic Phenomenology of the Sāṃkhya Philosophy.- Consciousness and Causation in Sāṃkhya.- Satkāryavāda. A causal explanation of change within eternal being.- Relationship of Puruṣa and Prakṛti in Sāṁkhya Kārikā - A Perspective from Quantum Theory.- Rethinking Pātañjala Yoga Through the Concepts of Abhyāsa and Vairāgya.- Discriminative Knowledge: A Way Forward to Higher Consciousness.- Self-Knowledge and Self-Transformation in Sāṃkhya-Yoga: A Way Towards Ethics of Life.- The Yoga of Nonseparation.