History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China HPI 60 - The Buddha and I - Indian Influence on Islamic and European Thought
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Feb 18, 2018 Muslim scholar al-Bīrūnī and European thinkers Hume, Hegel, and Schopenhauer were influenced by ancient Indian thought. Topics include: Islamic engagement with Indian ideas, influence of Indian philosophy on European thought (particularly Buddhism on Hume), impact of Indologists on Hegel, and contrasting views of Indian philosophy by Hegel and Schopenhauer.
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The Barmakids' Contribution
- The Barmakid family played a crucial role in translating Indian texts, especially scientific works, into Arabic.
- This facilitated the early dissemination of Indian culture in the Islamic world.
Al-Biruni's Translations
- Al-Biruni's access to Indian scholars at the court of Mahmud of Ghazni resulted in a small-scale translation movement between Sanskrit and Arabic.
- He translated texts like Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and the Samkhya Karika, demonstrating a deep engagement with Indian philosophy.
Al-Biruni's Interpretation of Indian Thought
- Al-Biruni presented Indian thought as a unified teaching aiming at liberating the soul from ignorance and material attachment to achieve union with God.
- This interpretation, influenced by Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita, overlooked the diversity within Indian thought.