Studium Generale | GRIPh Lecture | The Self in Indian Philosophy

In a million ways our idea of ourselves has been questioned as we journeyed into modernity. From Descartes' idea of self as a lone spectator to Hume's rejection of any core soul, Western philosophy has moved toward the belief that there is no 'Ghost in the Machine'. Recently scholars have suggested Buddhist philosophy’s ‘No-Self’ view confirms this. But Indian philosophy contains other provocative ideas of the mind - treating it as pure awareness veiled by as a personal 'Identity-Story', or a whirlwind-like pattern in matter, or a sovereign power of mastery over our ideas and body.

In this annual GRIPh lecture Jessica Frazier will look at alternative ideas of what we essentially are. Can Indian philosophy offer a deeper understanding of the mind's true nature?