A Concise Historiography of Classical Yoga Philosophy.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) June 19, 2023 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8055379 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe article examines how the history of classical Yoga philosophy has been written, arguing that existing historiographies often impose Western periodization schemes that distort the indigenous development of Yoga thought. It traces the evolution of scholarly approaches from early Orientalist accounts through modern critical historiography, highlighting how assumptions about linear progress and religious vs. philosophical categories have shaped interpretations. The author advocates for a more nuanced, context-sensitive historiography that respects the internal logic and textual traditions of classical Yoga, particularly the Yoga Sūtras and their commentaries, without forcing them into alien frameworks.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Historiography Philosophy Epistemology Political science Law |
| Citations | 33 |
| Key finding | Argues that standard historiographic approaches to classical Yoga philosophy impose artificial periodizations that obscure the tradition's complex development and its interrelations with other Indian philosophical systems. |
Abstract
A pre-print version of the article "A Concise Historiography of Classical Yoga Philosophy." In: Eli Franco (ed.), Periodization and Historiography of Indian Philosophy. Vienna: Sammlung de Nobili (Publications of the De Nobili Research Library, 37), p. 53–90.