Sanskrit : the philosophy

Abstract

Life is not merely a biological event. Indeed it may be construed as a linguistic fact especially in the light of a philosophy that, rather than claiming sagacity, assumes to be but a way of life and discourse determined by the eideion, the vision of wisdom. The etymology of the word philosophia itself, i.e. being friends with wisdom, advocates this very project for living philosophy. On the other hand, philosophy is far too often associated with the formation of a critical and independent attitude, with a method of disciplined thought, rigorous and reflective, rooted in wonder, enquiry and indeed astonishment… a rather romantic approach! Certainly such efforts do constitute an arsenal of worthy endeavours, activities surely indispensible to the formation of the good citizen and as such necessary for active participation in the civic life, sporting a free and hopefully autonomous spirit. But, alas, in the final analysis, these are merely the means to an end, tools and instruments. What is the end, then?