The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Ep. 346: Nyaya Sutra on Knowledge (Part Two)
Jul 29, 2024
Dive into the intriguing realms of knowledge with discussions on sensory perception, highlighting the often-overlooked sense of smell. Explore the tension between Western epistemology and alternative philosophical views, emphasizing the interplay of perception, inference, and language. Uncover the complexities of drawing conclusions and the role of testimony in shaping our understanding. The irony of conspiracy theories emerges, as individuals seek personal truth while challenging established authority—raising profound questions about trust and the nature of knowledge itself.
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Objective Qualities
- The Nyaya view rejects secondary qualities, proposing that qualities like taste and color reside in the object itself.
- Misperceptions arise from sensory limitations, not from valid subjective experiences.
The Primacy of Sight
- Western philosophy often prioritizes sight, potentially neglecting other senses.
- Recasting philosophical history using smell would be challenging due to its lack of formal structure.
Veridical Perception
- The Nyaya Sutra defines perception as a legitimate knowledge source only when it's not wrong.
- This sidesteps skeptical problems by focusing on veridical perception.