Reason in an Uncertain World: Nyāya Philosophers on Argumentation and Living Well - Softcover

Keating, Malcolm

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0197634435 ISBN 13: 9780197634431

Publisher: OUP USA, 2024

Synopsis

While many people today might turn to ancient Sanskrit philosophers for meditation or yoga, probably few would turn to them for help with difficult contemporary problems, such as what counts as "fake news" or navigating Internet debates. Philosopher Malcolm Keating argues that, in fact, a group of premodern Indian philosophers known as "Nyāya" have important things to say about how we can distinguish truth from falsity and reason well together, both of which are crucial to living a good life.

In Reason in an Uncertain World, Keating teaches us what's distinctive in Nyāya approaches to knowledge and discussion, explaining these ideas in relationship to ordinary examples readers can understand. What are the limits of our reasoning? What counts as good evidence for our beliefs? How do we know if someone is a trustworthy source of information? What do we do when we are gripped by doubt? When is a debate with someone worth our time, and how can we discuss contentious topics? The answers to these questions are as relevant today as they were in ancient India. There, they were the focus of Nyāya philosophy, one of the most influential traditions of Indian philosophy, which few outside of scholarly communities have heard of.

About this title

About the Author

Malcolm Keating is Visiting Associate Professor of Philosophy at Smith College. His research focuses on philosophy of language, epistemology, and argumentation in Indian philosophy, especially the traditions of Nyāya and Mīmāṃsā.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP USA
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0197634435
• ISBN 13: 9780197634431
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 232