--- product_id: 79023103 title: "An Introduction to Indian Philosophy" price: "€ 10.52" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/79023103-an-introduction-to-indian-philosophy store_origin: PT region: Portugal --- # Cross-cultural insights Comprehensive coverage Deep intellectual exploration An Introduction to Indian Philosophy **Price:** € 10.52 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock timeless wisdom — don’t miss out on the philosophy shaping minds worldwide! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** An Introduction to Indian Philosophy - **How much does it cost?** € 10.52 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/79023103-an-introduction-to-indian-philosophy) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Bonus Learning Tools:** Includes glossary and references for deeper exploration and ongoing learning. - • **Trusted Bestseller Status:** Ranked #29 in Philosophy with 4.5-star rating from 1,652 readers. - • **Contextual & Historical Depth:** Seamlessly weaves cultural and historical context with philosophical concepts. - • **Holistic Philosophical Approach:** Explores metaphysics, ethics, logic, psychology & epistemology in an integrated way. - • **Master Indian Philosophy with Ease:** Clear, engaging writing makes complex ideas accessible for beginners and pros alike. ## Overview An Introduction to Indian Philosophy by Rupa Publications offers a clear, comprehensive, and accessible exploration of Indian philosophical traditions. It covers key branches like metaphysics, ethics, logic, psychology, and epistemology with a synthetic outlook unique to Indian thought. Highly rated and a bestseller in philosophy, this book is perfect for beginners and enthusiasts seeking deep intellectual and cultural insights. ## Description From the Publisher Conversation with Satishchandra Chatterjee Chapter 1 General Introduction THE BASIC FEATURES OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHY 1. The Nature of Philosophy Like all other living beings, man struggles for existence. But while the lower beings struggle more or less blindly without any conscious plan and purpose, and work by instinct, man uses the superior gift of his intellect to understand the conditions and meaning of the struggle and to devise plans and instruments to ensure success. He wished to lead his life in the light of his knowledge of himself and the world, taking into consideration not merely the immediate results of his actions, but even their far-reaching consequences. Desire for knowledge springs, therefore, from the rational nature of man. Philosophy is an attempt to satisfy this very reasonable desire. It is not, therefore, a mere luxury, but a necessity. As an eminent English writer puts it: ‘Men live in accordance with their philosophy of life, their conception of the world. This is true even of the most thoughtless. It is impossible to live without a metaphysic. The choice that is given to us is not between some kind of metaphysic and no metaphysic; it is always between a good metaphysic and a bad metaphysic. ‘[1] [1] Aldous Huxley, Ends and Means, p. 252 Philosophy in its wildest etymological sense means ‘love of knowledge’. It tries to search for knowledge of himself, the world and God? These are some of the many problems, taken at random, which we find agitating the human mind in every land, from the very dawn of civilisation. Philosophy deals with problems of this nature. As philosophy aims at the knowledge of truth, it is termed in Indian literature, ‘the vision Every Indian School holds, in its own way, that there can be a direct realisation of truth (tattvadrsana). A man of realisation becomes free; one who lacks it is entangled in the world.’[1] [1] Vide Mani-Samhita , 6.74: ‘Samyag-darsana-sampannah karmabhirna nibhadhyate; darsanena vihinastu samsaram pratipadyate.’ In the history of Western philosophy, we find that as human knowledge about each of the different problems mentioned above began to grow, it became impossible for the same man to study everything about every problem. Division of Labour and specialisation became necessary and a group of men devoted themselves to a particular problem or a few connected problems. There came into existence in this way the different special sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Astronomy, Geology and similar sciences, each took up a part or aspect of the world of nature. Physiology, Anatomy and the other medical sciences devoted themselves to the different problems of the human body. Psychology began to study the problems of the human mind. The detailed study of many of the particular problems with which philosophical speculation originally started became thus the subject-matter of the special sciences. Philosophy then began to depend on the reports of the investigation made by the different sciences, tried to understand their meanings and implications critically, and utilised these results for understanding the general nature of the universe—man, nature and God. Western philosophy at the present day has for its main branches ( a ) Metaphysics, which discusses the general problems regarding reality—man, nature and God; ( b ) Epistemology or theory of knowledge, which enquires into the nature of human knowledge , as to how it develops and how far it is able to grasp reality; ( c ) Logic, which discusses the laws of valid reasoning and other incidental problems; ( d ) Ethics, which investigates the problems of morality, such as the standard of moral judgement, the highest goal of human life and other cognate problems; and ( e ) Aesthetics, which deals with the problems of beauty. Another recent development of philosophy in the West, called Axiology, is devoted to the discussion of the problem of values. Social Philosophy is also regarded as a branch of philosophy and often discussed along with Ethics. Psychology had been for long a very important branch of philosophy, but the tendency now is to treat it as one of the special sciences like Physics and Chemistry and give it a place independent of philosophy. Though the basic problems of philosophy have been the same in the East as in the West and the chief solutions have striking similarities, yet the methods of philosophical enquiry differ in certain respects and the processes of the development of philosophical thought also vary. Indian philosophy discusses the different problems of Metaphysics, Ethics, Logic, Psychology and Epistemology, but generally it does not discuss them separately. Every problem is discussed by the Indian philosopher from all possible approaches. This tendency has been called by some thinkers, like Sir B.N. Seal, the synthetic outlook of Indian philosophy. Review: Must book to understand Indian philosophy easily - This book provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of a subject that can often be quite complex. The author's writing is clear and engaging, making the concepts of Indian philosophy approachable for readers who may be new to the topic. What I particularly appreciated was the way the book seamlessly weaved together the historical and cultural context with the philosophical ideas, providing a well-rounded understanding of the subject. The book's organization and structure were excellent, making it easy to follow the development of philosophical thought over time. It also included a helpful glossary and references for further exploration, which I found valuable. Whether you're a student of philosophy or just curious about the rich philosophical traditions of India, this book is an excellent starting point. It's informative, well-written, and thought-provoking, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of this fascinating field. Review: Perfect choice for beginners - A very good book for beginners, who want to understand Indian philosophy. ## Features - Rupa publications - Language: english - This product will be an excellent pick for you ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #6,832 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #29 in Philosophy (Books) #188 in Religious Studies (Books) #1,640 in Literature & Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,652 Reviews | ## Images ![An Introduction to Indian Philosophy - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71wiP4-+sGL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must book to understand Indian philosophy easily *by U***R on 5 November 2023* This book provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of a subject that can often be quite complex. The author's writing is clear and engaging, making the concepts of Indian philosophy approachable for readers who may be new to the topic. What I particularly appreciated was the way the book seamlessly weaved together the historical and cultural context with the philosophical ideas, providing a well-rounded understanding of the subject. The book's organization and structure were excellent, making it easy to follow the development of philosophical thought over time. It also included a helpful glossary and references for further exploration, which I found valuable. Whether you're a student of philosophy or just curious about the rich philosophical traditions of India, this book is an excellent starting point. It's informative, well-written, and thought-provoking, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of this fascinating field. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect choice for beginners *by B***A on 4 October 2025* A very good book for beginners, who want to understand Indian philosophy. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cheap Paper quality *by P***H on 1 October 2025* Content is nice. Language easy. Paper quality should be better. ## Frequently Bought Together - An Introduction to Indian Philosophy - The Egyptian Philosophers: Ancient African Voices from Imhotep to Akhenaten - Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pt/products/79023103-an-introduction-to-indian-philosophy](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/79023103-an-introduction-to-indian-philosophy) --- *Product available on Desertcart Portugal* *Store origin: PT* *Last updated: 2026-04-24*