Indian Philosophy: Volume 2

Indian Philosophy #2

by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Oxford is pleased to be bringing back into print this classic 2-volume work on Indian philosophy by one of India's greatest thinkers. First published in 1923, the work was revised in 1929.

Genres: Philosophy, India, Nonfiction, Hinduism, Religion, Spirituality

808 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Bharat Ratna Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was an Indian philosopher and statesman. He was the first Vice-President of India (1952–1962) and subsequently the second President of India (1962–1967).

One of India's most influential scholars of comparative religion and philosophy, Radhakrishnan is thought of as having built a bridge between the East and the West by showing that the philosophical systems of each tradition are comprehensible within the terms of the other. He wrote authoritative exegeses of India's religious and philosophical literature for the English speaking world. His academic appointments included the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta (1921-?) and Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University (1936–1952).

Among the many honours he received were a knighthood (1931), the Bharat Ratna (1954) and the Order of Merit in 1963. His birthday is celebrated in India as Teacher's Day.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

190516: dense and deliberate book 2 (volume one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...). this is a historical document (1923), of english academic style, though i do not know how significantly different is current understanding of indian philosophy. i have grown up more or less a-religious, but in a nominally christian society, so have no sense of either the original texts eg. vedas, upanishads, epics, or the usual human corruption of faiths eg. brahmanism and caste, buddhism and dissolution, and no idea of more contemporary thinkers...

this is harder than volume one. exactly why, i think because it is in many ways similar to that historical western philosophy of christian authors, who assume belief in God as a 'necessary postulate', but in this case the eastern, the indian, concept of brahman is foundational- and of which i know little. the author also tends also in finding affinity of sorts with western philosophy, primarily big names eg kant, but more contemporaneous various analytic philosophers eg. russell. i do not know these anglo thinkers as well, though i do follow him when the author declares against 'scientism', for the complexity, the range of ways, of our world resists reductionism to one such perspective...

there are doubtless more works on indian philosophy to read, as these two volumes are encyclopedic, possibly more useful as reference than tutorial, because there is a lot. a lot. here. the subtle distinctions of indian materialism, western materialism, the idealism leading to the 'non-dualism' which is other than leibniz, there is a. lot. though as mentioned, this is an older text and i do not know more recent indian thought, or indeed if it has progressed as the author encourages... i can see the conflict between hindu/brahmanic thought and buddhist thought, for in many ways they occupy opposite ends of thought, the first where essential identity/transcendence is recognizing your true brahmanic nature, where the other insists on essential emptiness of such claims. despite how this book 1 says buddhism was an outgrowth of previous and established philosophical thought, i can only think it revolutionary, i can only appreciate buddhism as philosophy, and not religion...

[Rajesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book as a guidebook when I waded through the deep waters of philosophy first. Although I didn't find it to be a layman's guide, the style of exposition and the depth of several philosophical aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism are lucid. There's a lot to be gained by repeated readings. For me, volume two was an easier place to start, since it dealt with the qualified monism of Ramanuja and the monism of Shankara. I have since found resources online which are more accessible, but when in the mood, I still find myself picking this book up. I'd recommend it to anyone with more than a passing interest in philosophy, especially Indian thinking.

[Vijay Peddada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book which give complete picture of Indian Philosophy.

[Toon Pepermans]

(I only read the chapters on Shankara)

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some obvious bias especially from his time. But the depth and scope and wit are unparalleled.

[Santosh Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in elegant prose with innumerable pearls of wisdom scattered throughout S. Radhakrishnan gives an admirable account of the history of Indian thought. The book passionately and logically defends the Indian philosophy from the charges of the western philosophers along with critically analyzing the schools of thought. The writing bears a deep admiration for the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta of Sankara which culminates in the most complete account of his philosophy which I thoroughly enjoyed. The book at times may seem abstract for a lay reader but such instances are rare. A must read for Lay readers and researchers alike!

[Viji (Bookish endeavors) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The same as volume 1.. This is the book for you if you are trying to find clarifications on certain points. It contains a huge load of information. If you want something specific on Indian philosophy, this is the place for it. But if you are just starting to read Indian philosophy, read someone else first.