8.4 Vaisheshika: Atomistic pluralism

Vaisheshika, one of Hinduism's six orthodox schools, focuses on atomistic pluralism. Founded by sage Kanada, it views reality as composed of eternal, indivisible atoms of earth, water, fire, and air. This philosophy categorizes existence into six padarthas: substance, quality, action, universality, particularity, and inherence.

Vaisheshika's atomic theory explains universe formation through atom combination guided by unseen forces and divine will. It proposes cycles of creation and dissolution, with atoms recombining to form objects. This school influenced other Hindu philosophies and contributed to early Indian scientific thought.

Vaisheshika Philosophy: Principles and Atomism

Fundamental Principles

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• Vaisheshika is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy founded by the sage Kanada around the 6th to 2nd centuries BCE
• The school emphasizes the importance of direct perception (pratyaksha) and inference (anumana) as valid means of knowledge (pramanas)
• Vaisheshika holds that the ultimate reality is a plurality of independent substances each with its own distinct qualities and attributes
• The school is known for its atomistic pluralism which posits that the universe is composed of eternal, indivisible, and indestructible atoms (paramanu) of four types: earth, water, fire, and air

Categorization of Reality

• Vaisheshika categorizes reality into six padarthas (categories): dravya (substance), guna (quality), karma (action), samanya (universality), vishesha (particularity), and samavaya (inherence)
• The nine dravyas recognized by Vaisheshika are: earth, water, fire, air, ether, time, space, soul (atman), and mind (manas)
• Guna (quality) refers to the attributes or characteristics of substances such as color, taste, smell, and touch
• Karma (action) denotes the motion or activity of substances
• Samanya (universality) represents the common properties shared by different substances or entities
• Vishesha (particularity) refers to the unique or distinguishing characteristics of individual substances or entities

Formation of the Universe in Vaisheshika

Atomic Combination and Aggregation

• According to Vaisheshika, the universe is created through the combination and aggregation of atoms under the influence of unseen forces (adrishta) and the will of God (Ishvara)
• Atoms are considered to be eternal, uncaused, and indestructible serving as the building blocks of the material world
• The four types of atoms (earth, water, fire, and air) combine in different proportions to form the various objects and substances in the universe (plants, animals, minerals)
• The process of atomic combination is guided by the inherent nature (svabhava) of the atoms and the laws of karma which determine the specific arrangements and interactions of atoms

Cycles of Creation and Dissolution

• Vaisheshika proposes that the universe undergoes cycles of creation and dissolution with atoms disintegrating during the dissolution phase and recombining during the creation phase
• During the dissolution phase, the atomic bonds are broken, and the material world is reduced to its constituent atoms
• In the creation phase, atoms recombine under the influence of unseen forces and divine will to form the various objects and entities in the universe
• These cycles of creation and dissolution are thought to repeat indefinitely reflecting the eternal nature of the atoms and the cyclical view of time in Hindu cosmology

Inherence and Substance-Quality Relationships

Samavaya: The Concept of Inherence

• Samavaya (inherence) is one of the six categories (padarthas) in Vaisheshika philosophy representing the relationship between a substance and its qualities or between a whole and its parts
• Inherence is considered to be an eternal and inseparable connection explaining how qualities inhere in substances and how parts inhere in the whole
• For example, the color of a flower is inherent in the flower itself and cannot be separated from it (redness in a rose)
• Similarly, the parts of a pot (e.g., its base, walls, and rim) are inherent in the whole pot and cannot exist independently of the pot itself
• Samavaya is seen as a distinct category different from conjunction (samyoga) which is a temporary and separable connection between two substances (a book on a table)

Unity and Integrity of Objects

• The concept of inherence helps to explain the unity and integrity of objects despite their being composed of multiple qualities and parts
• Inherence accounts for the fact that an object remains the same object even when its qualities or parts change over time (a person remains the same person despite physical changes)
• Vaisheshika argues that without inherence, objects would lack coherence and stability as their qualities and parts would be disconnected and independent entities
• The relationship of inherence ensures that qualities and parts are intrinsically tied to their respective substances and wholes creating a unified and integrated reality

Vaisheshika's Influence on Hindu Thought and Science

Impact on Other Philosophical Schools

• Vaisheshika's atomistic theories and categorization of reality had a significant impact on the development of other Hindu philosophical schools particularly Nyaya
• The Nyaya school, which focuses on logic and epistemology, adopted and further elaborated on many of the concepts introduced by Vaisheshika such as the categories (padarthas) and the atomic theory
• Vaisheshika's emphasis on direct perception and inference as valid means of knowledge influenced the epistemological theories of other schools such as Samkhya and Yoga
• The systematic approach to the categorization of reality and the use of logic and reasoning in Vaisheshika set the stage for further philosophical inquiries in other schools

Contributions to Indian Science

• The atomic theory of Vaisheshika also had an impact on the development of Indian science particularly in the fields of physics and chemistry
• Ancient Indian scientists and philosophers drew upon Vaisheshika's ideas to develop theories about the nature of matter, the composition of substances, and the behavior of physical phenomena
• Vaisheshika's concept of atoms as the fundamental building blocks of matter influenced the development of atomistic theories in Indian chemistry and physics
• The school's emphasis on direct observation and inference as methods of acquiring knowledge encouraged empirical investigations and scientific reasoning
• Vaisheshika's categorization of reality and its analysis of substance-quality relationships provided a framework for understanding the properties and behavior of various substances and materials (classifying substances based on their qualities and attributes)