Indian Philosophy and Text Science

This book will clarify various aspects of Indian philosophy using concepts from text science to their analysis. Text science attempts establish universal rules that apply to all expressions of human speech. All human expression, including behavior, is communication. It contains a meaning system regardless of whether it uses language. We can classify human expression as language, figure and body action. For this reason, all forms of expression are considered texts. Universal rules must be applied for each form. Text science aims to understand how rules work across different types of texts, and provide a better understanding about human behavior. The direction of analysis here is from context to the text. You can also move from text. It is possible to also move from one text to another. It is possible to find a new context by reading commentaries. This context cannot be found through only one text. This context will help us to interpret the other texts in a coherent way. These two directions of analysis and the concept of context may not be new to scholars of Indian Studies, who are often unaware of this approach. We will however try to make this method conscious. This book’s underlying principle states that to understand Sanskrit texts or any other language, we must turn our attention to factors outside them. For example, information from other areas of study. These factors are called context. This concept has been used by all contributors to this book. There are nine papers that have been divided into four sections: General, Buddhism and Vedanta, Mimamsa, Vyakarana, Nyaya, and Vaisesika.