Indeed, Adrian, it's very interesting to take the various Indian perspectives in response to questions such as: "What is Epistemology?"
I started this thread back in 2005 by posting the following defition: "Epistemology: The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity." http://groups.google.com/group/epistemology/browse_thread/thread/dde394624efcc033 .. I added the following Etymological Roots: "Greek epistm, knowledge (from epistasthai, epist-, to understand : epi-, epi- + histasthai, middle voice of histanai, to place, determine; see st- in Indo-European Roots) + -logy." http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=epistemology ... and then posted the following questions: 1. What is knowledge? Can one person claim or believe to have specific knowledge, while someone else claims or believes something else or even the direct opposite? 2. What are the foundations and presuppositions of knowledge? Can we pre-assume that knowledge exists and can be obtained and exchanged? If so, how can one obtain knowledge? What methodologies are (un)acceptable or (in)appropriate when gaining, changing and exchanging knowledge? 3. What is the extent of knowledge? What is the difference between information, impressions, feelings, predictions and knowledge? What is the difference between scientific knowledge and other knowledge (if such knowledge exists in the first place)? 4. How valid is knowledge and how can such validity be assessed? What if some knowledge is inconsistent with some other knowledge? Should we seek ways to reconcile differences? 5. Finally, what is the width of epistemology? Is epistemology restricted to the study of knowledge, or does it also cover issues like conscience, belief, logic, principles, values, science, feelings and information? If epistemology is limited, does this limit its philosophical conclusions? Personally, I am very interested in Indian philosophy, where Veda means 'knowledge', which is generally seen as a body of Vedic 'texts' or Hindu 'scriptures', even though the Samaveda (Sanskrit: सामवेद, sāmaveda, from sāman "melody" + veda "knowledge" ), which is the third of the four Vedas, consists of a collection (samhita) of hymns and verses, to be sung, using melodies called Samagana, by the caraṇa, i.e. followers of this school of philosophy. My name Sam Carana indicates this preference for singing, as opposed to 'knowledge' that was written down and therefore has become static and detached from meaning and intent. Cheers! Sam Carana On Nov 18, 1:35 am, adrian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Yep, India has, formally stated, six philosophies, although one can count > more. Sankhya or Samkhya > is like therevada also unified, as is currently in the west quantum physics. > India, with polytheism, > does not have theology either. Anybody can pick whichever godling they like. > If one goes back to > earlier versions of a more earth global kind there's no such thing as > epistemology or ontology > either. What about tripitaka or the three baskets of knowledge? What about > njana, yoga and and > bhakti and all that? > > adrian > > Sam Carana wrote: > > Thanks for that, Sinhalaya, this issue is worth more thought. > > > Cheers! > > Sam Carana > > > On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 10:42 PM, Sinhalaya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> In Theravada philosophical tradition (based on Buddhism) there is no > >> two subjects as epistemology and ontology. It takes both as single > >> corpus of knowledge. It does not accept that the knowledge is > >> objective and there is a reality beyond the mind and senses. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Epistemology" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/epistemology?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
