Samkhya school of philosophy, it's salient features and objectives.
1. Discuss the basic concept and salient features of Samkhya school of Philosophy.
Ans: The first work of the Sankhya philosophy was the ‘Sankhya sutra’ written by Kapila and he was the founder of this philosophy. Samkhya is one of the Six Astika orthodox school of Indian philosophy.
Features of Samkhya Philosophy:
The features of Samkhya philosophy are enumerated in the following below:
(i) Samkhya philosophy stresses Jnana or knowledge as the only means of liberation. Hence, it is a system of perfect knowledge.
(ii) Samkhya philosophy believes that the universe consists of two realities, namely Prakriti and Purush.
(iii) Samkhya philosophy is of dualistic realism because both Prakriti and Purush are eternal and independent of each other.
(iv) According to Samkhya philosophy there are only three valid sources of knowledge (Parmanas). They are: (a) Pratyaksa (direct knowledge), (b) Anumana (inference), (c) Sabdha (testimony).
(v) This philosophy considers the existence of 25 tattvas(principles) as the basis of reality which offers a comprehensive understanding of reality from a samkhya perspective.
2. Discuss the objectives of Samkhya school of Philosophy.
Ans: The objectives of samkhya philosophy are mentioned below:
(i) To provide true education:
Samkhya philosophy stated that true education should be provided to develop an individual’s potentialities which can help one to differentiate between Prakriti and Purush.
(ii) To imparts knowledge of reality:
Samkhya philosophy emphasis to provided perfect knowledge about prakriti and purush because knowledge is the only means of liberation.
(iii) To provide knowledge of Prakriti and Purush and their differences:
Education according to samkhya should aim at developing man in such a way that he may distinguish between matter and spirit and may attain freedom from the miseries of life. This is the basic end (saddhya) education.
(iv) To analysis Tattvas and Gunas and their process:
Another important objective of Samkhya philosophy is to analysis of the 25 tattvas and three Gunas or qualities and the process of evolution of the cosmos.