Principles of Vaisheshika Philosophy

Vaisheshika Philosophy

1. Introduction

• Vaisheshika is traditionally paired with Nyaya.
• Attributed to Kanada Rishi (along with Panini).
• Kanada Vaisheshika Sutras authored by Kanada.
• Prasastapada provided commentary on these sutras (5th Century).
• Merged with Nyaya around the end of the first millennium, resulting in "Nyaya Vaisheshika".
• "Vaisheshika" derives from "Vishesha," meaning difference or unique attribute.

2. Key Idea: Diversity and Classification

• Multiple distinct entities in the world, even among similar items.
• Recognizes diversity and aims to classify it easily.
• "Vishesha": Peculiarity that makes an entity distinct.
• Diversity is fundamental to the world (opposing Advaita Vedanta).
• Agrees with Nyaya: Uncontradicted experience should be real.

3. Challenge of Giving a Theory

• Difficult to give an explanation for every single entity.
• Solution: Classify entities into categories for a comprehensive theory.
• Explaining the nature of the category explains the nature of each entity in the category.
• Strategy: Subsume entities into baskets with general definitions.

4. Categories (Padartha)

• Knowledge of categories is important for liberation.
• 7 categories:
  • 6 bhava padarthas (existent categories)
    • Dravya (Substance)
    • Guna (Quality or Attribute)
    • Karma (Action)
    • Samanya (Generality or Universal)
    • Vishesha (Particularity)
    • Samavaya (Inherence)
  • 1 abhava padartha (non-existent category)
    • Abhava (Absence/Negation)
• Categories used to describe phenomena in the world.
• Example: Analyzing the sentence "No brown cow walks here" through these categories.

5. Explanation of Categories

• Dravya (Substance)
  • Examples: 'Cow', 'here' (spatial location). Space is considered a substance.
  • Entities are put into this category
• Guna (Attribute/Quality)
  • Examples: 'Brown' (color), Hard, Soft, Contact etcetera
  • A single theory for the category covers all attributes
• Karma (Action) * Examples: 'Walks' – any kind of action. * Single theory for the category covers all actions
• Samanya (Generality/Universal) * How we identify things as a type. Shared common features. * Examples: cow has "cow-ness", humans have humanness
• Vishesha (Particularity) * Each entity is also unique/ different * Examples: every person is a different human being.
• Samavaya (Inherence) * Glue/relation that holds attributes to a substance. * Not separable * Example: color is inherent in an object
• Abhava (Absence/Negation) * The negation / the absence of something. * Example: “No”

6. Application of Categories (Padartha)

• Each word of the language corresponds to an object (padartha).

7. Theory of Paramanu

• Real proponents of Paramanu theory. (Nayakas also accept).
• Paramanu (atoms) are indivisible, smallest particles, and distinct from each other.
• Each paramanu has a vishesha (distinction).
• Differs from the modern notion of atoms (gold atom = another gold atom).
• Paramanu forms the material cause of the world.
• Examples: paramanus of earth, water, fire, and wind.
• Paramanu is known via inference, not direct perception.

8. Composite Entities

• Entities are composite and made of parts.
• Parts can be separated into smaller parts.
• Logical conclusion: End up with partless entities called "Paramanu."

9. Conclusion

• Vaisheshika & Jaina also had their own versions of Paramanu.
• Agrees with Nyaya on ideas of liberation and roles of Ishvara.
• Correct understanding of pramana and prameya leads to liberation.