Presentation Title

Are the Cartesian and Yogic Conceptions of the Self the Same?

Location

Hanover Duxbury Room

Start Date

12-10-2013 2:00 PM

End Date

12-10-2013 3:30 PM

Abstract

Rene Descartes (1596-1650) and Patanjali, author of the Yoga-sūtras (c. 400 CE), are both famous for articulating paradigmatic expressions of substance dualism, the view that the true self or mind is a fundamentally different kind of substance than the physical body. Typically, each is cited as the case study of dualism, for the Western tradition and for the Indian tradition respectively. This paper examines the serious differences between these two visions of dualism, and in the process of doing so, tries to illustrate the way in which such comparative philosophy, across traditions, helps to illuminate each tradition.

Comments

Presentation is included in Panel 20: Language and Logic in Classical India

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Oct 12th, 2:00 PM Oct 12th, 3:30 PM

Are the Cartesian and Yogic Conceptions of the Self the Same?

Hanover Duxbury Room

Rene Descartes (1596-1650) and Patanjali, author of the Yoga-sūtras (c. 400 CE), are both famous for articulating paradigmatic expressions of substance dualism, the view that the true self or mind is a fundamentally different kind of substance than the physical body. Typically, each is cited as the case study of dualism, for the Western tradition and for the Indian tradition respectively. This paper examines the serious differences between these two visions of dualism, and in the process of doing so, tries to illustrate the way in which such comparative philosophy, across traditions, helps to illuminate each tradition.