Philosophy and Civilisation: A Comparative Analysis of India with the West

Abstract

Purpose: This paper gives a comparative study of philosophy and civilization of both the Indian and Western traditions and claims that every civilization manifests a unique philosophy. In Karl Jaspers’ description of the Axial Age, it places the almost simultaneous blooming of Greek and Indian thought as a parallel yet contrasting answer to the human condition. Using the classification of “inwardness” and “outwardness” by P. T. Raju, it places Indian metaphysics and epistemology, centered on consciousness, Brahman and liberation, against the Western focus on substance, reason and the external world.

Methodology: In this paper, the exploratory qualitative research method is used. The relevant information is collected using keyword-based search in Google search engine, Google Scholar search engine, and AI-driven GPTs. This information is analysed and interpreted as per the objectives of the paper.

Analysis/ Results: Indian meta philosophy and dharma, along with Greek eudaimonism, are placed against the backdrop of contemporary deontological and utilitarian ethics. The paper traces the history of the meeting of India and Europe, from Schopenhauer to contemporary comparative philosophy, and postulates the nature and the results of a real dialogue between civilizations.

Originality/ Values: The Paper concludes that complementarity, as opposed to hierarchy, best describes the relationship of the two philosophical traditions.

Type of Paper: Exploratory Research.