Insults, Slurs, and Other Pejorative Speech

Anyone who is familiar with premodern Indian philosophy written in Sanskrit knows that philosophers were not above using insults in their work. J.M. Verpoorten (2002) has a paper collecting these insults, which include akṛta-buddhi (having an unformed mind), paśu (animal, Continue reading Insults, Slurs, and Other Pejorative Speech

Call for Papers, Prabuddha Bharata “Thoughts on Yoga”

Submitted to the blog by Swami Narasimhananda: Prabuddha Bharata is a monthly English journal devoted to the social sciences and the humanities started in 1896 by Swami Vivekananda and is in its 123rd year now. The January 2019 issue of Prabuddha Bharata Continue reading Call for Papers, Prabuddha Bharata “Thoughts on Yoga”

Why should one study the meaning of the Veda? I.e., why studying Mīmāṃsā? (It is hard to present your research program to the public)

At a certain point in the history of Mīmāṃsā (and, consequently, of Vedānta), the discussion of the reasons for undertaking the study of Mīmāṃsā becomes a primary topic of investigation. When did this exactly happen? The space dedicated to the Continue reading Why should one study the meaning of the Veda? I.e., why studying Mīmāṃsā? (It is hard to present your research program to the public)

The Indian Ministry of Culture Vivekananda Chair

Announcement from the University of Chicago, submitted by Kate Moore: The University of Chicago invites applications for “The Indian Ministry of Culture Vivekananda Chair,” a visiting professorship that allows the University to welcome a senior scholar of significant academic distinction Continue reading The Indian Ministry of Culture Vivekananda Chair

International Indology Graduate Research Symposium

Submitted to the blog by Lidia Wojtczak International Indology Graduate Research Symposium We are pleased to announce that the tenth International Indology Graduate Research Symposium (IIGRS 10) will take place at SOAS, University of London, on Friday the 28th and Saturday the Continue reading International Indology Graduate Research Symposium

Nyāya on selves (A guest post by Sikander Gilani)

(I received the following post from Sikander Gilani, who is a Philosophy PhD student at Austin. They will surely be happy to read your questions or feedback below.) Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika holds that there are self substances that bear psychological properties and Continue reading Nyāya on selves (A guest post by Sikander Gilani)

Buddhaghosa on seeing things as they are (1)

Earlier this year I examined the classic Pali Milindapañhā dialogue and its claim that while one can speak of oneself as a “convention” (vohāra), ultimately (paramattha) a person is not found. I referred in passing to the Visuddhimagga (Path of Continue reading Buddhaghosa on seeing things as they are (1)

Two interesting works on global philosophy to keep our eyes on

What makes a philosopher great? Edited by Stephen Hetherington. While this has far more western thinkers than non-Western on the list, it does have an essay by Jonardon Ganeri on Buddhaghoṣa. Epistemology for the rest of the world. Edited by Stephen Stich, Continue reading Two interesting works on global philosophy to keep our eyes on