A Cognitive Science View of Abhinavagupta’s Understanding of Consciousness
Religions August 13, 2014 DOI: 10.3390/rel5030767 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA comparison of the 11th-century Śaiva philosopher Abhinavagupta's views on consciousness with those of contemporary philosophers reveals possibilities for a materialist paradigm that prioritizes subjectivity over objectivity. Abhinavagupta's nondual Śaivite system provides a framework connecting the material with the phenomenal, which may be useful for cognitive science and philosophy of mind.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that Abhinavagupta's nondual Śaivite framework offers a theory for connecting the material with the phenomenal, potentially informing a materialist paradigm that prioritizes subjectivity. |
Abstract
This paper offers a comparative analysis of the nature of consciousness correlating the insights of the 11th century Śaiva philosopher Abhinavagupta with the work of some contemporary philosophers of consciousness. Ultimately these comparisons especially bring to light possibilities for constructing a materialist paradigm that might operate from a prioritization of subjectivity rather than objectivity. I propose that the Hindu, nondual Śaivite system that Abhinavagupta lays out offers a framework that may be useful for contemporary cognitive science and philosophy of mind precisely because Abhinavagupta offers a theory for connecting the material with the phenomenal.