Relevance of Indian Philosophy to Contemporary Western Philosophy : A New Paradigm of Philosophy

Distinctive Features: The Seminar focuses on the relevance of Indian philosophy, including epistemology, philosophy of language, logic, and values, to Western philosophy. Hence this Seminar will set a forum for discussion, so that Indian and Western philosophers can speak to and assist each other in solving problems of mutual interest. Moreover, it will focus on the ways to suggest new or better solutions to some problems of contemporary epistemology, or to reconcile some of the conflicting views, or to add a new dimension to contemporary Western philosophy, by using the techniques of Indian systems of philosophy.
 
Topics: The seminar will introduce the following topics for discussion: Causation, including the views of Sāṁkhya, Bauddha, and Nyāya philosophers, sources of knowledge such as perception, inference, analogy and testimony; Gettier and post-Gettier problems (counter-examples to the JTB/Justified True Belief thesis), analysis of belief-sentences, doubt, meanings of terms, including proper names, definite descriptions, and indexicals; meanings of sentences as well as the understanding of their meanings from the perspectives of Nyāya-Vedanta, subject-predicate and related pairs, negation, number, self, concepts of harmony, including the views of Swami Vivekananda.

Language used in discussion: English
Inauguration: 6th January at 5 pm, (Vivekananda Hall),
Academic Session : 7th and 8th January
Time: From 9.30 am to 5pm, with lunch break for an hour and two tea breaks, each 15 minutes.

Participants: Applications are invited from teachers or scholars of Indian or Comparative Philosophy from around the world. Please attach your CV along with supporting documents such as letters of references. Please register by 15 December 2019.

Hospitality: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture will offer local hospitality to five participants for four days at their Guest House, but not travel-expenses, national or international. Others are invited to participate at their own expense.