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

Tue Jun 25 13:02:11 UTC 2024

For an overview of the history of the terms āstika and nāstika, see the 
chapter:

“Affirmers (āstikas) and Deniers (nāstikas) in Indian History”, in 
Andrew J. Nicholson, Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in 
Indian Intellectual History, New York: Columbia University Press, 2010, 
pp. 166–184.

L.

On 25/06/2024 13:54, Howard Resnick via INDOLOGY wrote:
> Dear Nagaraj,
>
> You indicate that āstika and nāstika are Indian neologisms, but these 
> words are common in earlier Sanskrit literature. I give a few examples 
> below.
>
>> But , as almost all in this group know, these two words  aastka and 
>> naastika were not in reference to the existence or no existence of 
>> God in the traditional Vaidika discourse.
>
> There are a number instances of āstikyam in the Mahābhārata, and the 
> context seems to indicate the word is being used in the sense of 
> believing in the existence of God. Here is just a partial list of 
> occurences of āstikya and nāstikya in the Mahābhārata:
>
> MBh 1.1.181, 2.5.96, 6.40.42, 12.12.25, 12.59.66,
>
> And in the Gītā 18.42
>
> Bhāgavata-purāṇa: 1.16.28, 7.11.23, 11.17.18, 11.19.33
>
> In all these cases, the word seems to be used in the MW sense of 
> "belief in God, piety, faithfulness.”
>
> Best wishes,
> Howard
>
>
>> On Jun 25, 2024, at 2:16 AM, Nagaraj Paturi via INDOLOGY 
>> <indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Prof. Jeffrey Long,
>>
>> 'existence' , interestingly enough, is part of the contemporary 
>> neologisms in the discourse related to religion in the contemporary 
>> Indian languages.
>>
>> Words aastka and naastika are the neologisms formed and in use as the 
>> Indian language replacements for 'theist' and 'atheist' of English.
>>
>> But , as almost all in this group know, these two words aastka and 
>> naastika were not in reference to the existence or no existence of 
>> God in the traditional Vaidika discourse.
>>
>> asti and naasti,  in the traditional Vaidika discourse ,  refer to 
>> the existence and no existence of praamaanya for Sruti or existence 
>> or no existence of paralokas , svarga, naraka or mokshalokas (such as 
>> vaikuntha, goloka, kailaasa, manidveepa etc.)
>>
>> The root sat for exist as found in the word satya is part of the 
>> debates within Vedanta about the satyatva or mithyaatva of the 
>> category called Jagat , but not about a category comparable to God.
>>
>> Category comparable to God, or a category often conflated with or 
>> confused for God in the Vaidika darshanas including Vedanta, is " 
>> eeshvara ".
>>
>> Classificational categories seshvara and nireeshvara used in 
>> reference to different Vaidika darshanas are not about the existence 
>> or no existence of " eeshvara ". It is about whether the category of 
>> " eeshvara ". is necessary to account for things , (entities, 
>> processes and relationships etc.)
>>
>> Within Vedanta, brahman  and eeshvara , categories comparable to God, 
>> are not discussed for existence or no existence of the category/entity.
>>
>> Another existence or no existence discussion within Bharatiya 
>> Darshanas seems to be around aatman and that is between Vedanta and 
>> an avaidika darshana, say Baudha darshana . If anattaa is no 
>> existence of aatman,  then this can be seen to be around the question 
>> of existence.
>>
>> In Vedanta, because of the equivalence of Brahman and aatman at a 
>> certain level, this, if it is actually around the existence or no 
>> existence of aatman,  can be seen to be, at least remotely, connected 
>> to the existence or no existence of a category comparable to God.
>>
>> On Sun, Jun 23, 2024 at 9:47 PM Jeffery Long via INDOLOGY 
>> <indology at list.indology.info> 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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>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Nagaraj Paturi
>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>> Dean, IndicA
>> BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra
>> BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra
>> BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru.
>> Member, Advisory Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, Bengaluru
>> Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies,
>> FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of  Liberal Education,
>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>>
>>
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