Classical Indian Vitalism Found in the Abhidhamma as an Approach to the Hard Problem of Consciousness: Problems and Perspectives
Rahul Banerjee, Dipsundar Sahu
Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies July 1, 2024 DOI: 10.4103/jacs.jacs_150_23 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that the Abhidhamma model of consciousness as a transient internal state, mediated by vital energy prana, shows parallels with modern biophysical studies and has applications in Ayurvedic therapy. |
Abstract
Currently, vitalism stands as a discredited theory in the Western empirical sciences. However, the Indian analytical traditions, specifically the Jaina, Bauddha, Sankhya-Yoga, and the Vedanta, unanimously propose a vital energy “prana” or “jivitindriya” to bridge the explanatory gap between internal conscious states and physical states in the body. The philosophical development of vitalism both in the East and West follows independent and different trajectories. In this article, the view of consciousness as a transient internal state (found in the Abhidhamma ) and the modes of its interaction with physical states is critically examined. An attempt is made to find some parallels between the classical Abhidhamma model of consciousness and modern biophysical studies. How the model arose from meditative observation and the status of vital energy prana in mediating the interaction between internal and physical states, is discussed. The article ends by noting the application of these concepts in a therapy found in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
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Citations in the library
Cites 12
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- Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems Nature Reviews Neuroscience April 20, 2016
- Vitalism and cognition in a conscious universe. Communicative & Integrative Biology May 8, 2022
- Conscious Processing and the Global Neuronal Workspace Hypothesis. Neuron March 1, 2020
- The unfolding argument: Why IIT and other causal structure theories cannot explain consciousness. Consciousness and Cognition July 1, 2019
and 7 more in the library