Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy of Consciousness

This book exclusively deals with the study of consciousness in Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy. Samkhya-Yoga is two allied philosophical systems in which consciousness is the focal point of discussion. The book investigates consciousness from metaphysical, epistemological and ethical or normative perspectives. Concepts such as Duhkha (suffering), Purusa (consciousness), Chitta (self/the mental), chittavrti (mental modification), Prakrti and Trigunas (nature and its attributes) are critically discussed to reconstruct the metaphysics of consciousness. All the chapters have contemporary relevance as they delve into the nature of causation and provide an all-inclusive viewpoint of consciousness by emphasizing its normative perspective. The contributions in the book are from eminent scholars working in the field of consciousness and other related topics such as cognition, mind, causality, knowledge and liberation. The book provides a comprehensive viewpoint of consciousness by emphasizing its normative perspective concerning the notion of engaged selfhood for jivanmukta. It is an invaluable resource for contemporary readers in the field of philosophy of mind across Indian and Western philosophy traditions.

Ranjan Kumar Panda is a Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Bombay. He specializes in philosophy of mind and consciousness studies. He has authored a book titled Mind, Language and Intentionality (2008), edited another two volumes titled Language, Mind and Reality: A Reflection on Philosophical Thoughts of R. C. Pradhan (2015) and, Self-Knowledge and Moral Identity (2023). He presented research papers on consciousness at national and international conferences in India and abroad. His papers have been published in either refereed journals or edited books. He is the founder and member of the Tattvanveshi Philosophical Society, which conducts lecture series, book discussions and workshops under the name Forum for Philosophy.