The Philosophy of Lokayata: A Review and Reconstruction

The Charvaka or Lokayata darshana has an important place in the classical Indian philosophical tradition. The Charvaka viewpoint, seen as anti-Vedic, is held to be materialistic, the emphasis being on matter as the existent, primordial constituent of the whole universe. It has been much criticised by other philosophical traditions for affirming a materialistic ontology ad upholding atheism. This volume studies the Charvaka tradition, taking up its perspectives vis-à-vis materialism, morality, self and socio-individual relationship. Taking into account the perspectives of Western philosophers and modern Indian thinkers, it concludes that the Charvaka stand moves along ontological foundation that is not opposed to science and is not far from common sense.