[INDOLOGY] Analogues to Anselm's Ontological Arguments in Indian Philosophy?

[Uskokov, Aleksandar]

Dear Jeff and Matthew,

On the conceivability, I had thought once that the TaittirIya section on the gradation of bliss that is followed by the famous verse--yato vAco nivartante aprApya manasA saha AnandaM brahmaNo vidvAn na bibheti kutazcana--shares something with Anselm's argument. This appears in related iterations. But that strange jump from conceivability to necessary being is, I think, what is unique to the ontological argument, and I don't think it shares much, if anything, with Shankara's self-evidentiality of oneself or anything related. Perhaps what comes closest is Shankara's--and Bhartrhari's--argument that Being must be predicated of everything, not as anything specific but as pure Being. But this comes from an incomparably different place and concerns.

Yours,
Aleksandar

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________________________________
From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info> on behalf of Jeffery Long via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info>
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2024 1:08:17 PM
To: Matthew Kapstein <mattkapstein at proton.me>
Cc: Indology List <indology at list.indology.info>
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Analogues to Anselm's Ontological Arguments in Indian Philosophy?

Thank you, Matthew!

That is my impression as well: that there is nothing quite similar to or even analogous to Anselm’s arguments in Indian philosophical traditions. As you say, Gaṅgeśa and others in the Nyāya and Navya-Nyāya traditions developed arguments closer to the Western cosmological and design arguments. I have thus far not found anything quite like Anselm’s arguments.

I’ll be happy to learn if something is out there with which I am unfamiliar.

All the best!

Jeff

On Jun 23, 2024, at 12:55 PM, Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info> wrote:


But Jeff,
Anselm’s argument is not about self-evidence per se, it’s about conceivability, and in its second iteration, necessary being. I’m not aware of close analogues in Indian philosophy. The classical theistic arguments seem to mostly resemble the Western cosmological and design arguments.

There are some interesting developments in GaNgeza, of course, but I think still not along the lines of the ontological argument.

best
Matthew

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On Sun, Jun 23, 2024 at 18:17, Jeffery Long via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info<mailto:On%20Sun,%20Jun%2023,%202024%20at%2018:17,%20Jeffery%20Long%20via%20INDOLOGY%20<<a%20href=>> wrote:
Dear Colleagues,

Forgive me if this question has already been raised at some point on this list.

Are any of you aware of arguments developed in Indian philosophical systems akin to the ontological arguments for the existence of God raised by St. Anselm? The closest thing I can think of is Śaṅkara’s argument that existence is self-evident.

With much gratitude in advance,

Jeff


Dr. Jeffery D. Long
Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, & Asian Studies
School of Arts & Humanities
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA

https://etown.academia.edu/JefferyLong

Series Editor, Explorations in Indic Traditions: Ethical, Philosophical, and Theological
Lexington Books

“One who makes a habit of prayer and meditation will easily overcome all difficulties and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of life.”  (Holy Mother Sarada Devi)

“We are a way for the Cosmos to know itself.” (Carl Sagan)







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