Consciousness and cognition in Classical Sāṃkhya metaphysics

  1. Ferrández Formoso, Raquel 1
  1. 1 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
    info

    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02msb5n36

Journal:
Indialogs: Spanish journal of India studies

ISSN: 2339-8523

Year of publication: 2020

Issue Title: Gender

Volume: 7

Pages: 63-78

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5565/REV/INDIALOGS.134 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Indialogs: Spanish journal of India studies

Abstract

This article explores the psychological dimension of classical Sāṃkhya philosophy, on the basis of its canonical treatise, Sāṃkhyakārikā of Īśvarakṛṣṇa (4th Century AD). The strong dualism defended by this ancient metaphysics establishes a division between what we will designate as the phenomenon of consciousness (puruṣa) and the cognitive phenomena (prakṛti). According to our approach, Sāṃkhya seems to offer a mechanical model of mind by means of an introspective self-research. In fact, we will argue that  in this system of thought, mind is regarded as an artificial extension of consciousness. Considering the Sāṃkhya classical treatise as the report of a meditative experience, our main purpose is to examine some key points of this dualism. To this end, we also take account of certain Western theories of mind, as well as certain aspects included in another Indian philosophy greatly influenced by the Sāṃkhya system, namely, the classical Yoga of Patañjali.

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