Reason, Revelation, and Experience in Indian Philosophy: A Critical Reexamination

FAIN: FA-51801-05

Bina Gupta
Mizzou (Columbia, MO 65211-3020)

The goal of the proposed project is to write a book on the use and applicability of three Western philosophical concepts—"reason," "revelation," and "experience"—in Indian philosophy. These Western concepts have no standard translations into Sanskrit or modern Indian languages; however, modern scholars translate such Sanskrit terms as "tarka," "sruti," and "anubhava" as "reason," "revelation," and "experience," respectively to characterize Indian philosophy as religious, spiritualistic, intuitive, and practical. These characterizations have blocked an authentic understanding of Indian philosophy. The proposed work will dispel these misconceptions and bring the theoretical rigor of Indian philosophy to the forefront.