Classical Vaisesika in Indian Philosophy: On Knowing and What is to Be Known. By ShashiPrabha Kumar. Routledge, March 22, 2013. 176 pages. ISBN-10: 0415549183 ISBN-13: 978-0415549189
摘要
The author establishes at the outset that this book is “descriptive,” and not concerned with philosophical analysis or winning over new adherents to Vaiśeṣika. It is clear, however, that Kumar does believe that Vaiśeṣika has answers to modern‐day questions: for instance, she claims that Vaiśeṣikas can explain what happens when metal cutlery is placed in a microwave oven! The book is arranged in eight chapters, flanked by a brief introduction and conclusion. Kumar's strength is her ability to lay out the tenets of Vaiśeṣika succinctly and clearly, with copious footnotes referring to Sanskrit primary sources. Chapter 3, on the six categories (padārthas) of the Vaiśeṣika school, will be particularly useful to those seeking an introduction to influential concepts such as substance (dravya) and attribute (guṇa). The historical introduction, however, is too cursory. It would have been helpful to explain in more detail the evolving relationship of the Vaiśeṣika and Nyāya schools, especially as the author at times refers to “Nyāya‐Vaiśeṣika” with little explanation of what she means. More sustained analysis of Vaiśeṣika's ambiguous stance vis‐à‐vis the Veda would also have been welcome. Kumar insists that Vaiśeṣika “owes its allegiance to Veda,” yet elsewhere notes that Kaṇāda, author of the Vaiśeṣika Sūtras, shared the Buddhists' rejection of scriptural authority (śabda) as an independent pramāṇa. Despite its limitations, this book is a convenient graduate‐level reference work and a welcome addition to the literature on this seminal school.
