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142540 SE The notion of God and religious practice according to classical and medieval Nyaya (2023S)
Nyayasutra 4.1.19-21 and 4.2.38-50 in the light of its commentaries
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from We 01.02.2023 08:00 to Tu 28.02.2023 10:00
- Deregistration possible until Fr 31.03.2023 23:59
Details
max. 36 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Tuesday 07.03. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 14.03. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 21.03. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 28.03. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 18.04. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 25.04. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 02.05. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 09.05. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 16.05. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 23.05. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 06.06. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 13.06. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 20.06. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
- Tuesday 27.06. 11:00 - 12:30 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
Participants are expected to prepare the assigned texts comprehensively and in depth, and to translate and interpret them, based on their exploration of the thematic context by means of the relevant secondary literature. Furthermore, participants are encouraged to independently consult and present additional primary materials in class, and to participate in the critical discussion of selected secondary sources in the sessions.
Regular attendance is obligatory and essential. If more than three sessions are missed, a negative evaluation will be made.
Regular attendance is obligatory and essential. If more than three sessions are missed, a negative evaluation will be made.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
50% of the evaluation is based on the oral and written performance during the course, consisting of the thorough preparation of the assigned texts, the presentation of own translations in class, and the active participation in the analysis, interpretation and problematization of the materials (20%), as well as of a short written assigment (mini-essay or translation; book, chapter or essay review; etc.) (15%). A further 15% of the assessment basis is covered by an oral presentation. The seminar paper makes up the remaining 50%. The topic of the seminar paper (about 15 pages) related to the course topic has to be chosen in consultation with the course instructor.
Examination topics
This is a course designed for second-semester students of the MA program “Languages and Cultures of South Asia” (MASK) and for PhD students in this area. The recommended prerequisite for participation is the completion of MASK module 1.
Reading list
Textual basis:
Anantalal Thakur (ed.), Gautamīyanyāyadarśana with Bhāṣya of Vātsyāyana. Nyāyacaturgranthikā 1. New Delhi 1997.
Anantalal Thakur (ed.), Nyāyabhāṣyavārttika of Bhāradvāja Uddyotakara. Nyāyacaturgranthikā 2. New Delhi 1997.Selected further literature:
Michel Angot, Le Nyāyasūtra de Gautama Akṣapāda. Le Nyāyabhāṣya d’Akṣapāda (!) Pakṣilasvāmin. L’art de conduire la pensée en Inde ancienne. Paris 2009.
G. Bhattacharya, Studies in Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika Theism. Chapter 7 (pp. 140–159). Calcutta Sanskrit College Research Series No. 14, Studies No. 5. Calcutta 1961.
C. Bulcke, The Theism of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika. Its Origin and Early Development. Delhi etc. 1968.
M. Dasti and S. Phillips, The Nyāya-sūtra. Selections with Early Commentaries. Chapter 6 (pp. 116–137). Indianapolis/Cambridge 2017.
D.H. Ingalls, Human Effort versus God’s Effort in the Early Nyāya (NS 4.1.19– 21). In: Felicitation Volume Presented to Professor Śrīpad Krishna Belvalkar, Benares 1957, pp. 228-235.
G. Oberhammer, Wahrheit und Transzendenz. Ein Beitrag zur Spiritualität des Nyāya. Chapter I (pp. 1–65). Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, philosophisch–historische Klasse, Sitzungsberichte 424 = Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Sprachen und Kulturen Südasiens 18. Wien 1984.
W. Ruben, Die Nyāyasūtra’s. Abhandlungen für die Kunde des Morgenlandes 18,2. Leipzig 1928.
J. Vattanky, Development of Nyāya Theism. Chapters 1–2 (pp. 1–49). New Delhi 1993.
J. Vattanky, Is Theism Central to Nyāya? Indian Philosophical Quarterly 27 (2000), pp. 411–420.Additional literature will be pointed out while the seminar is in progress.
Anantalal Thakur (ed.), Gautamīyanyāyadarśana with Bhāṣya of Vātsyāyana. Nyāyacaturgranthikā 1. New Delhi 1997.
Anantalal Thakur (ed.), Nyāyabhāṣyavārttika of Bhāradvāja Uddyotakara. Nyāyacaturgranthikā 2. New Delhi 1997.Selected further literature:
Michel Angot, Le Nyāyasūtra de Gautama Akṣapāda. Le Nyāyabhāṣya d’Akṣapāda (!) Pakṣilasvāmin. L’art de conduire la pensée en Inde ancienne. Paris 2009.
G. Bhattacharya, Studies in Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika Theism. Chapter 7 (pp. 140–159). Calcutta Sanskrit College Research Series No. 14, Studies No. 5. Calcutta 1961.
C. Bulcke, The Theism of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika. Its Origin and Early Development. Delhi etc. 1968.
M. Dasti and S. Phillips, The Nyāya-sūtra. Selections with Early Commentaries. Chapter 6 (pp. 116–137). Indianapolis/Cambridge 2017.
D.H. Ingalls, Human Effort versus God’s Effort in the Early Nyāya (NS 4.1.19– 21). In: Felicitation Volume Presented to Professor Śrīpad Krishna Belvalkar, Benares 1957, pp. 228-235.
G. Oberhammer, Wahrheit und Transzendenz. Ein Beitrag zur Spiritualität des Nyāya. Chapter I (pp. 1–65). Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, philosophisch–historische Klasse, Sitzungsberichte 424 = Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Sprachen und Kulturen Südasiens 18. Wien 1984.
W. Ruben, Die Nyāyasūtra’s. Abhandlungen für die Kunde des Morgenlandes 18,2. Leipzig 1928.
J. Vattanky, Development of Nyāya Theism. Chapters 1–2 (pp. 1–49). New Delhi 1993.
J. Vattanky, Is Theism Central to Nyāya? Indian Philosophical Quarterly 27 (2000), pp. 411–420.Additional literature will be pointed out while the seminar is in progress.
Association in the course directory
MASK5
Last modified: Mo 13.02.2023 12:48
This course will provide insight into central religious aspects of the history of Nyāya philosophy in classical and medieval South Asia, by looking at the discussion on the existence of an eternal, omniscient and omnipotent creator god on the one hand, and at the treatment of religious practice leading to salvation on the other. On both aspects, God and religious practice, deliberations can already be found in the Nyāyasūtra, the authoritative work underlying Nyāya philosophy (c. 4th century) (NS 4.1.19-21 and 4.2.38-46). After reading and interpreting NS 4.1.19-21, the only and variously understood passage where God is mentioned in the Nyāyasūtra, in its broader context, we will turn to the interpretation of this short passage in the commentary of Pakṣilasvāmin Vātsyāyana (ca. first half of the 5th century), together with excerpts directly related to it from the Nyāyavārttika, in which Uddyotakara (6th century) furthermore offers a small independent, polemically constructed treatise on the proof of God based on his function as creator of the world. Following this, we will proceed to NS 4.2.38-46, a sequence of sūtra-s devoted to the discussion of spiritual-religious practices leading to, or supporting, liberating adequate knowledge. Again, the context of the sūtra-s must be considered first before we will proceed to Vātsyāyana's commentary. Since it is quite concise, we will also be able to read Uddyotakara's comments on it in its entirety. If there is still time, we will also consult some later direct commentaries on NS 4.2.38-46 in historical comparison.