History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China

Dive into the rich philosophical roots of Tantra, revealing its profound practices beyond the misconceptions often held in the West. Discover Abhinavagupta's influence and how bodily engagement plays a vital role in spiritual liberation. Explore non-dual Śaivite Tantra, and its unique perspective on consciousness and reality. The episode also touches on intriguing connections between ancient Indian philosophy, animal attitudes, and their impact on reincarnation and dietary choices.

Buddhaghosa, a major figure in Buddhism, challenges the idea of a controlling self in mental activities. He compares humans to self-driving cars, explores the intricacies of conscious experience, and discusses the active engagement of the mind using vivid analogies. The podcast delves into his philosophy of mind and the importance of empathy in fostering community.

Exploring Dignaga's philosophy on self-awareness in perception, contrasting it with Niaya school's reflective theory. Discussing awareness inherent in perception, subjective qualities, and cognitive aspects. Delving into intersection of memory, self-awareness, and consciousness. Exploring debates of Dignaga and Damakirti on perception, awareness, and self-awareness within Buddhist philosophy.

Graham Priest, expert in non-classical logic, discusses the connection between logic and Buddhism. Topics include the influence of Buddhist patterns of reasoning, the exploration of Asian philosophies, the evolution from classical to non-classical logic, the emphasis on epistemology in ancient Buddhist logic, the principle of non-contradiction in Western philosophy, and Nagarjuna's Tetralemma in Buddhist philosophy.

Delve into Dignaga's trairūpya theory on reliable inferences and the role of evidence in epistemology. Explore Darmakirti's solution to the problem of induction and the importance of properties in sound inference. Get a teaser for the next episode on a philosopher influenced by Buddhist logic.

Delve into Dignaga's concepts on perception and language, exploring the notions of superimposition and the ineffable nature of perceived objects. Discover his critique of traditional Buddhist views and his skeptical approach towards direct realism. Explore how Dignaga argues that perceptions are shaped by internal forms rather than external objects, and dive into his views on perception, language, and the role of universals in mental constructs.

Exploring Vasubandhu's transition to Yogacara Buddhism, rejecting mind-independent reality. Delving into the critique of Sarvastivada theory and the development of Sautrantika theory. Justifying mental reality as the only reality and emphasizing liberation from suffering through reducing attachment.

Explore the Jain theory of knowledge and Jainism's perspective on knowledge. Learn about their theory of inference, the concept of the soul, and their polemic against Buddhist theories. Discover the relationship between color and taste, explore necessary inferences and universal relations, and delve into Jainism's connection to ethics and non-violence.

The podcast explores the Jain theory of seven predications and how it addresses criticism. It delves into the complexities of truth in the Jain tradition and discusses different viewpoints on inexpressibility. The episode also examines the Jain belief in multiple standpoints and their response to the accusation of self-contradiction.

The podcast discusses the Jain theory of standpoints, exploring its origins, comparison with Buddha's approach, and role in understanding the self. It also examines the Jains' critique of one-sided theories and analysis of language, explores different etymologies and practical usage of standpoints in philosophy, and delves into the concept of truth in Jain philosophy.