Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions

Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions
Author: Meera Baindur
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2015-05-19
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 8132223586

Working within a framework of environmental philosophy and environmental ethics, this book describes and postulates alternative understandings of nature in Indian traditions of thought, particularly philosophy. The interest in alternative conceptualizations of nature has gained significance after many thinkers pointed out that attitudes to the environment are determined to a large extent by our presuppositions of nature. This book is particularly timely from that perspective. It begins with a brief description of the concept of nature and a history of the idea of nature in Western thought. This provides readers with a context to the issues around the concept of nature in environmental philosophy, setting a foundation for further discussion about alternate conceptualizations of nature and their significance. In particular, the work covers a wide array of textual and non-textual sources to link and understand nature from classical Indian philosophical perspectives as well as popular understandings in Indian literary texts and cultural practices. Popular issues in environmental philosophy are discussed in detail, such as: What is ‘nature’ in Indian philosophy? How do people perceive nature through landscape and mythological and cultural narratives? In what ways is nature sacred in India? To make the discussion relevant to contemporary readers, the book includes a section on the ecological and ethical implications of some philosophical concepts and critical perspectives on alternate conceptualizations of nature.

Indian Philosophy

Indian Philosophy
Author: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 650
Release: 2008
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780195698411

"Tracing the development of Indian philosophy as a single tradition of thought, these two volumes provide a classical exposition of Indian thought. The author showcases ancient philosophical texts and relates them to contemporary issues of philosophy and religion. He presents the essential meaning and significance of individual texts and philosophies and also draws parallels between Indian and western philosophical traditions. The first volume covers the Vedic and Epic periods, including expositions on the hymns of the Rig-Veda, the Upanishads, Jainism, Buddhism, and the theism of the Bhagvadgita. The second investigates the six Brahmanical philosophical systems, the theism of Ramanuja, Saiva ethics, metaphysicas and literature, and the theism of the later Vaishnavas." "This second edition, with a new Introduction by eminent philosopher, J.N. Mohanty, underlines the continuing relevance of the two volumes and the philosophic tradition they represent. Lucidly written, these books will form essential reading for students, teachers, scholars of Indian philosophy as well as general reader interested in the development and growth of Indian thought."--Jacket.

Classical Indian Philosophy

Classical Indian Philosophy
Author: Peter Adamson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 422
Release: 2020-03-26
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0192592661

Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri present a lively introduction to one of the world's richest intellectual traditions: the philosophy of classical India. They begin with the earliest extant literature, the Vedas, and the explanatory works that these inspired, known as Upaniṣads. They also discuss other famous texts of classical Vedic culture, especially the Mahābhārata and its most notable section, the Bhagavad-Gīta, alongside the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. In this opening section, Adamson and Ganeri emphasize the way that philosophy was practiced as a form of life in search of liberation from suffering. Next, the pair move on to the explosion of philosophical speculation devoted to foundational texts called 'sutras,' discussing such traditions as the logical and epistemological Nyāya school, the monism of Advaita Vedānta, and the spiritual discipline of Yoga. In the final section of the book, they chart further developments within Buddhism, highlighting Nagārjuna's radical critique of 'non-dependent' concepts and the no-self philosophy of mind found in authors like Dignāga, and within Jainism, focusing especially on its 'standpoint' epistemology. Unlike other introductions that cover the main schools and positions in classical Indian philosophy, Adamson and Ganeri's lively guide also pays attention to philosophical themes such as non-violence, political authority, and the status of women, while considering textual traditions typically left out of overviews of Indian thought, like the Cārvaka school, Tantra, and aesthetic theory as well. Adamson and Ganeri conclude by focusing on the much-debated question of whether Indian philosophy may have influenced ancient Greek philosophy and, from there, evaluate the impact that this area of philosophy had on later Western thought.

The Indian Mind

The Indian Mind
Author: Charles Alexander Moore
Publisher: Honolulu : East-West Center Press
Total Pages: 488
Release: 1967
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN:

Bandish as Text

Bandish as Text
Author: Barnashree Khasnobis
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 134
Release: 2024-11-07
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1040227317

This book provides a socio-cultural analysis of khayal bandishes composed by Ne’mat Khan ‘Sadarang’ and Feroze Khan ‘Adarang’. It argues that deciphering khayal bandishes as cultural symbols provides an understanding of the constitution of medieval Indian society and shows how society gets represented via such symbols. The author examines the cultural forces that nurtured the context of compositions by Sadarang and Adarang. She touches upon the cultural exchanges between Hindu and Muslim communities through scholarly and philosophical discourses to create a rationale for khayal as a syncretic form of art. A unique contribution to the study of Indian culture and music, the book will be an indispensable resource for students, teachers, and researcher scholars of South Asian studies, Hindustani music, cultural studies, history, and medieval Indian society.

Nature Across Cultures

Nature Across Cultures
Author: Helaine Selin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 492
Release: 2013-04-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401701490

Nature Across Cultures: Views of Nature and the Environment in Non-Western Cultures consists of about 25 essays dealing with the environmental knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside of the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Indian, Thai, and Andean views of nature and the environment, among others, the book includes essays on Environmentalism and Images of the Other, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Worldviews and Ecology, Rethinking the Western/non-Western Divide, and Landscape, Nature, and Culture. The essays address the connections between nature and culture and relate the environmental practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both environmental history and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected Areas

Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected Areas
Author: Bas Verschuuren
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2018-08-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1351609319

Cultural and spiritual bonds with ‘nature’ are among the strongest motivators for nature conservation; yet they are seldom taken into account in the governance and management of protected and conserved areas. The starting point of this book is that to be sustainable, effective, and equitable, approaches to the management and governance of these areas need to engage with people’s deeply held cultural, spiritual, personal, and community values, alongside inspiring action to conserve biological, geological, and cultural diversity. Since protected area management and governance have traditionally been based on scientific research, a combination of science and spirituality can engage and empower a variety of stakeholders from different cultural and religious backgrounds. As evidenced in this volume, stakeholders range from indigenous peoples and local communities to those following mainstream religions and those representing the wider public. The authors argue that the scope of protected area management and governance needs to be extended to acknowledge the rights, responsibilities, obligations, and aspirations of stakeholder groups and to recognise the cultural and spiritual significance that ‘nature’ holds for people. The book also has direct practical applications. These follow the IUCN Best Practice Guidelines for protected and conserved area managers and present a wide range of case studies from around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas.

Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship

Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship
Author: Satinder Dhiman
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2023-06-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3031288858

This book builds on recent advances in the theory of sustainable development and links it with environmental stewardship in a dialectical manner, as envisioned by global scholars in this emerging field. Environmental stewardship deals with practical issues of ecosystem management and governance to address changes in socio-ecological systems to sustain the supply and availability of ecosystem services by society. It means reducing our total footprint on the planet, not just carbon footprint. Truly global in scope, this volume is a humble offering of more than 12 scholars and practitioners from around the world to the exciting adventure of sustainable development and eco-stewardship. Featuring topics such as climate change, organizational sustainability, green innovation, and urban governance, this book is useful for policy makers, managers of NGOs, and sustainability researchers in developing engaging strategies for a more sustainable planet.

Hinduism and Ecology

Hinduism and Ecology
Author: Christopher Key Chapple
Publisher:
Total Pages: 752
Release: 2000
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

"In this volume, scholars of Hinduism, Hindu practitioners, and environmental activists discuss the past history and future prospects for the development of environmentally responsive forms of Hinduism. Topics include the Vedic viewpoint on nature, the potential contribution of Gandhian thought, forest ecology in India, the degradation and damming of river systems, and Hindu grassroots approaches to environmental restoration."--BOOK JACKET.

A Source Book in Indian Philosophy

A Source Book in Indian Philosophy
Author: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 716
Release: 2014-07-17
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1400865069

Here are the chief riches of more than 3,000 years of Indian philosophical thought-the ancient Vedas, the Upanisads, the epics, the treatises of the heterodox and orthodox systems, the commentaries of the scholastic period, and the contemporary writings. Introductions and interpretive commentaries are provided.