Hello, this blog post presents my understanding of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's views on Hindu philosophy, his ideas regarding an idealistic life, and his overall contribution to Indian philosophy. In this task, I will be answering a few questions assigned by Prakruti Ma'am.
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: The Messenger of Indian Philosophy (1888-1975)
Radhakrishnan was an academician, philosopher and former Indian precedent. He is one of the most famous and recognized Indian philosopher and thinker, whose works draws heavily from Indian old scriptures like Vedanta and Upnishadas. His works primarily defends the beliefs of Hindu religion, and it practices and traditions. Radhakrishnan also represented Indian at the global level in the universities like Manchester college, Oxford. During the time when Britishers saw Indian as an orient and uncivilized, neglected our culture and practices, at that time Radhakrishnan's works were seen with respect and restored the dignity of Hindu culture and tradition. He is often considered as the bridge builder between Eastern and Western society and thoughts.
Radhakrishnan's Perspective of Hinduism
The first question is that why it is needed to defend the Hinduism?... during which Radhakrishnan writes this works. It is because Hinduism and it ethics somewhere felt backwards to the British people. India was colony of British, and therefore Indian people, their value, tradition, culture, and even religion was considered as inferior in compare to Christian religion. Initially there was a rift between both the religions, and therefore Radhakrishnan needed to defend the Hinduism against the Western views of Englishmen.
“The challenge of Christian critics impelled me to make a study of Hinduism and find out what is living and what is dead in it… I prepared a thesis on the Ethics of the Vedanta, which was intended to be a reply to the charge that the Vedanta system had no room for ethics”
This thing is talked about in his seminal work "The Hindu View of Life" which is divided into four sections, and each talks about various aspects of Hinduism. In that he explains what is Hinduism and it's doctrine, and adds that there is not a single specific definition of Hinduism as it was geographically named from 'Sindhu Sanskriti'. So the term Hindu is came from Sindhu, a similar kind of word which was a local name for Indus river.
Moreover, he defines Hinduism as a way of living life, and puts Hinduism in modern context to increase it's relevance in the contemporary time. He also asserts that Hinduism is done not believe in a single God. There are many Gods in Hindu religion and tradition, which started from the ancients time when various natural elements were worshiped by Aryans. In this sense Hinduism is polytheistic religion in comparison to other Abrahminic religions like Islam and Christianity, who are monotheistic religions.
'Hinduism is a philosophically coherent and ethically viable philosophy and religion'
Radhakrishnan also put emphasis on the tolerance of the Hindu people. He talks about trust based on doubt in which he says that people believes something but also questions it. This argument places Hindu religion in intellectual framework. Radhakrishnan and his works strived for improving the image of Hinduism. His views are now seen as much idealistic and somewhat problematic.
Write a note on the contribution of S. Radhakrishnan in Indian Writing in English.
Radhakrishnan is one of celebrated thinker and philosopher of India. His contribution to Indian Writing in English is immense, especially his views related to philosophy and idealist life. His philosophy as mentioned earlier took many things from ancient Indian texts and scriptures. He used those texts, and interpreted them in the modern context which is relevant to the problems faced by many peoples in today's time.
He advocated for philosophy of absolute idealism, and Advaita Vedanta. He believed that human being is more than matter, he is not only an observer but an essential part of the universe. he believed that human beings are spiritual beings rather than religions beings. He also believed that human being has that capacity to live ahead of himself, which can only be attained through spiritual awakening of inner self. He also gives examples of Budhha, Jesus, and Mohomet who achieved such kind of spiritual ability. His philosophy and his idealism is seems very much utopian to us now, and somewhat problematic because there are not much people who follows such kind of absolute idealism in their way of living life.
He also contributed in the betterment of education as well, and on his birthday we celebrates National Teacher's Day on 5th September. He also was the chairperson of Radhakrishnan commission which came immediately after the India's independence. For Radhakrishnan, the best way to build a united and strong India was through university education that helped individuals grow fully. In the 1930s and 1940s, he shared his idea of an independent India. He believed that India should be led by people who were educated and committed to awakening the country’s sense of identity and purpose.
According to Radhakrishnan, What is the Function of Philosophy?
To simply put, Radhakrishnan's philosophy is and idealist, spiritual and transcendental. In his work "An Idealist View of Life" he talks about his philosophy. He believed that universe is spiritually driving at something that has a meaning and value. The idea of assumption is at the center of any philosophy, and all philosophy is idealistic as said by German philosopher Hegel. This is also true for Radhakrishnan's views. His views are also idealistic (sometime unbelievable and problematic because of his various assumptions) where he says that humans can live beyond themselves. They have to awaken the inner divine from within.
He also talked about the reality. He believed that everything is a necessary part of one single reality. According to him God is not the supreme reality, but the divinity within ourselves is the supreme or transcendental reality.
During this journey of knowing oneself needs knowledge, and it's source is sense experience, intellectual cognition, and intuitive apprehension. Among them sense experience can be acquire from external forces. Through analysis and synthesis one can achieve intellectual cognition. The thing is neither of these able to help you in achieve the ultimate reality.
Personally, this philosophy is seems artificial because there is no one who has achieved such kind of supreme reality(not even Radhakrishnan who believes in such kind of abstract philosophy), at least in contemporary times.
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References:
Nivasulu Reddy, P., and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. “A Critical Analysis of ‘The Hindu View of Life’ by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.” Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, vol. IV, no. II, journal-article, Mar. 2014, p. 337. www.oiirj.org/oiirj/mar-apr2014/45.pdf?authuser=0.
“Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://iep.utm.edu/radhakri/#SH1c. Accessed 14 September 2024.
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