Publications
The Chief Currents of Contemporary Philosophy
The present book, authored by D.M.Datta, is an exhaustive analysis of the main trends in the philosophical world as found in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The book is divided into thirteen chapters: 1. Neo-Hegelian Idealism, 2. Italian Idealism, 3. Indian Idealism, 4. Pragmatism, 5.The Philosophy of Bergson, 6. Realism, 7. The Philosophy of Sense-Data, 8. Emergent Evolution, 9. Whitehead’s Philosophy of Organism, 10. Logical Positivism and Analysis, 11. The Philosophical Aspects of Marxism, 12. Existentialism, 13. Japanese Philosophy of Zen and Mu (Nothingness). In the Appendix, the author presents the views of some modern Indian philosophers like Rabindranath Tagore and M.K.Gandhi. Thus the book presents the salient theses of some of the philosophical schools of Europe, America, India and Japan.
The Concept of Philosophy
The present book, written by Nikunja Vihari Banerjee, is an attempt to formulate the very idea of philosophy mainly banking on the philosophy of K.C.Bhattacharyya. The book is divided into six chapters: 1. Introduction, 2. Philosophy and Science, 3. The Epistemological Background, 4. Empirical Thought and Philosophical Thought, 5. What then is Philosophy? and 6. Conclusion. The author presents K.C.Bhattacharya’s idea of philosophy as distinct from science and elaborates on the concept of philosophy as an independent spiritual activity.
The Fundamentals of Religion
The present book, written by Nalinikanta Brahma, undertakes a detailed study of the essence of all religions. The author classifies all the religions under three groups: 1. Impersonal, 2. Personal and 3. Supra-Personal. The doctrines and beliefs of all the great regions have been presented in terms of this classification. The author makes a critical assessment of the objections to religion as advanced by Russell, Freud and Marx. The author defends what he calls “ Supre-Personal Religion”. The book ends with an analysis of the possibility of a universal religion.
The Nyāya Theory of Knowledge
The present book is a detailed exposition of Nyāya epistemology. The book contains twenty chapters: 1. Introduction, 2. The nature and forms of knowledge, 3. Valid knowledge and its method, 4. The factors of valid knowledge, 5. The test of truth and error, 6. The definition of perception, 7. The psychology of perception, 8. Ordinary perception and its objects, 9. Three modes of ordinary perception, 10. Extraordinary perception, 11. The nature of inference, 12. The grounds of inference, 13. Classification and Logical forms of inference, 14. The fallacies of inference, 15. The nature and forms of upamāna, 16. Upamāna as an independent source of knowledge, 17. The nature and classification of śabda, 18. Of words, 19, Of sentences, 20. Other sources of knowledge. This book thus offers an analysis of the different pramāṇas accepted by Nyāya.
The Philosophy of Kalidas Bhattacharyya
This book on the Philosophy of Kalidas Bhattacharyya was edited by Daya Krishna with the assistance of A.M. Ghose and P.K. Srivastava. This Volume came out as a part of the Indian Philosophical Quarterly Publication. This can be seen as reflections on the final formulation of Kalidas Bhattacharyya’s entire philosophical position. This is a Festschrift volume in honour of Kalidas Bhattacharyya. The contributors have written on the philosophical works of Bhattacharyya to which he has responded in the end. The volume includes the following essays:
- K.L. Sharma – “A Step Beyond K.C. Bhattacharyya
- Daya Krishna – “Kalidas Bhattacharyya and the Logic of Alternation”
- S. K. Chattopadhyaya – “Alternative Standpoints of Philosophy
- K.K. Bagchi – “Subjective and Objective Attitudes as Alternatives – A Study of Kalidas Bhattacharyya’s View of ‘Knowledge – Object Unity’”
- N.K. Sharma – “Kalidas Bhattacharyya’s Philosophy of Absolute Alternatives”
- R.S. Bhatnagar “Philosophy and Meta-Philosophy – Study of a Fundamental Dichotomy in Kalidas Bhattacharyya’s Thought”
- Yogesh Gupta – “Presuppositions of Science and Philosophy – A Critical Note on the Notion of Metastudy in Kalidas Bhattacharyya’s Philosophy”
- M.K. Bhadra – “Kalidas Bhattacharyya’s View of Freedom and Existentialist Thought”
- R.P. Pandey – “Kalidas Bhattacharyya and the Indian Concept of Man”
- K.J. Shah – “Religion – Sophisticated and Unsophisticated”
- Kalidas Bhattacharyya – My Reflections
The Philosophy of Martin Heidegger
The present book is a detailed exposition of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger written by J.L.Mehta. The book is divided into three parts. The first part offers an introduction to Heidegger’s thought. The second part offers an analysis of the main themes that Heidegger deals with in his Being and Time. In the third part, Mehta situates Heidegger in the context of Western Metaphysical tradition and brings out the philosophical significance of his thoughts.
The Philosophy of Science
The present book, written by Pravas Jivan Chaudhury, contains essays on different aspects of the philosophy of science. The author presents his views on the problem of induction, the nature of scientific explanation, science and normative ethics, the problem of free-will etc. The author presents his analysis of the quantum theory in science and its epistemological significance. In some cases, the author sheds new light on the Indian philosophical perspective.
The Philosophy of Whitehead
Rasvihary Das, in this book, offers an analysis of the main ideas of the philosophy of Whitehead. The book is divided into fourteen chapters: 1. Philosophy and its method, 2. Some primary Ideas, 3. Actual Entities, 4. Eternal objects, 5. Groups and Grades of Actual Entities, 6. The Extensive Continuum, 7. Propositions, 8. Feelings, 9. Feelings (Continued). 10. Perception, 11. Truth, 12. God, 13. Some Difficulties and 14. Conclusion. This book gives the reader a comprehensive knowledge of the philosophy of Whitehead. The author also highlights how his interpretation of Whitehead differs from other works on Whitehead.
The Problems of Philosophy
The present book is an introduction to the main issues dealt with in Western philosophy. This book is divided into eleven chapters: 1. The concept of philosophy, 2. Philosophy, science and religion, 3. The methods of philosophy, 4. The nature of knowledge, 5. The relation of knowledge to object, 6. Objects of knowledge as constructions, 7. Sense-data and the perception of objects, 8. The nature and tests of truth and error, 9. The theory of external relations, 10. The theory of Internal Relations, 11. The nature of universals, and 12. thought and reality.
The Real and The Negative
The present book, authored by B.K.Mallik, is an attempt to present a theory of epistemology and an analysis of religious experience. In part I the author starts by explaining the significance of Cartesian doubt and then goes on to discuss issues like laws of thought, categories of being and becoming, theory of knowledge etc. In part II the author presents his analysis of different aspects of religion like the nature of religious experience, theory of divinity etc.
Towards Perpetual Peace
This book, authored by Nikunja Vihari Banerjee, is an attempt to explore the idea of perpetual peace as has been understood by people in different ages. Different fictions have been generated by people in different eras to account for the idea of perpetual peace. In the era of science and technology, man has attempted to aspire to perpetual peace in his own way. The author explains the spiritual needs of the human mind while trying to reach the goal of perpetual peace. The book is divided into three parts: 1. The Realm of Fiction, 2. The Trial of Science and Technology and 3. The Peace-Making Utopia.
Vakyartha Nirupaner Darshanik Paddhati (Part-1) বাক্যার্থ নিরুপনের দার্শনিক পদ্ধতি (প্রথম ভাগ)
The present book, written by Jogendranath Bagchi, is a detailed explanation of the debate concerning the nature of understanding the meaning of a sentence, a debate that different classical Indian philosophers participated in. The book is divided into five chapters: 1. Abhihitānvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda as advocated by the authors of Vedāntakalpalatīkā and Nyāyamañjari, 2. Abhihitānvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda as advocated by Citsukhācharya, 3. Examination of Abhihitānvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda by Udayana, the author of Kusumāñjali, 4. Determining the nature of Abhihitānvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda by Gaṅgeśopādhyāya, the author of Tattvacintāmaṇi and 5. Kāryānvitaśaktivāda as the conclusion of the author of Tattvacintāmaṇi.
Vakyartha Nirupaner Darshanik Paddhati (Part-2) বাক্যার্থ নিরুপনের দার্শনিক পদ্ধতি (দ্বিতীয় ভাগ)
The present book is an explanation of some of the theories of understanding a sentence available in classical Indian philosophical traditions. There are five chapters in the book: 1. Explaining Kāryānvitāśaktivāda of the author of Tattvacintāmaṇi, 2. Refutation of Abhihitānvayavāda in Tattvacintāmaṇi, 3. Explaining the nature of Anvitābhidhānavāda from Bṛhati and Rijuvimala, 4. Explaining the essence of Abhihitānvayāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda from Advaitasiddhi and Laghuchandrika and 5. Explaining the nature of pravartaka jnana and pratibhā according to Bhartrhari.
Vedānta-Sūtram (Vloume-4) বেদান্তসূত্রম (৪র্থ খন্ড)
This volume is a detailed Bengali translation and explanation of the Vedānta Sūtras contained in the Fourth chapter (also known as Phaladhyāya) of the entire Vedānta Sūtras. The Bengali translation and explanation are done by Nrtyagopal Pancatirtha. This commentary explains the Vedanta Sūtras in accordance with the philosophical ideas advocated by Śrī Chaitanyadeva. In the first section, one finds a discussion on the nature of liberation and its different kinds. In the second section, one finds an explanation of how the liberated persons get free from the shackles of the body. The third section undertakes a discussion on the nature of Brahman that is to be attained. The fourth section explains the nature of the liberated person.
Vedānta-sūtram (Volume-2) বেদান্তসূত্রম (২য় খন্ড)
This volume is a detailed Bengali translation and explanation of the Vedanta Sutras contained in the second chapter of the entire Vedānta Sūtras. The Bengali translation and explanation is done by Nrtyagopal Pancatirtha. In this book, one gets a detailed explanation of the meaning of the Vedic sentences that appear to be conflicting with each other concluding that all the Vedic sentences aim at establishing Brahman as the ultimate reality. This is followed by an explanation and refutation of all the philosophical views that are contrary to the Vedic conclusion. The author defends the theory of Acintyabhedābheda as determining the relation between the ultimate reality and an individual self.
Vedānta-Sūtram (Volume-3) বেদান্তসূত্রম (৩য় খন্ড)
This volume is a detailed Bengali translation and explanation of the Vedānta Sūtras contained in the third chapter of the entire Vedānta Sūtras. The Bengali translation and explanation are done by Nrtyagopal Pancatirtha. In this book, one gets a detailed explanation of the futility of the mundane rituals and argues for the pañcagni vidyā as found in Chāndogya Upaniṣad. There is also discussion on how the self goes out of the physical body and enters a new body after rebirth. The second part undertakes a discussion on the nature of sādhanabhakti which is the way to attain liberation. In the third section, one gets an analysis of the nature of Śrī Hari which is the goal to reach. The fourth part presents an analysis of the nature and varieties of vidya, i.e. Haribhakti.
Yanja-katha যজ্ঞ- কথা
This book, written by Ramendra Sundar Trivedi, contains a detailed description of the significance of some of the sacrifices prescribed in the Vedas. The book is divided into five chapters: 1. Ahnyadhāna and Agnihotra, 2. Iṣtiyāga and Paśuyāga, 3. Soma-Yāga, 4. Christa-yāga and 5. Purisa-Yajna. A detailed description of the performance of these sacrifices and their purports has been explained in this book. The notion of sacrifice in Christianity has also been explained by the author.
Yoga Psychology of Patañjali And Some Other Aspects of Indian Psychology
In this book Dinesh Chandra Bhattacaharya presents an analysis of different aspects of mind as put forward by Patanjali. There are ten chapters in the book: 1. Yoga psychology of Patañjali, 2. The unconsciousness in Yoga psychology, 3. The four emotional categories in Advaita Vedānta, 4. Pratibhā jñāna or intuitive knowledge in Indian philosophies, 5. Indian psychology with special reference to Ayurveda, 6. Dream in Indian psychology, 7. Psychology of emotions, 8. Avasthā or states of mind, 9. Illusion, hallucination and fantasy and 10. Psychology of education and educational conduct. Thus this book offers an understanding of Patanjali’s theory of mind.
क्रोड्पत्त्रसंग्रहः (Krodapattrasangraha or Critical Notes)
This book is a collection of short essays by Kāliśankara Siddhāntavāgīsa on different issues in Navya-Nyāya. The essays in the present collection include discourses on Gadādhara’s theory of Prāmāṇya, 2. Gadādhara’s theory of Anumāna, 3. On Vyāptipañcaka, 4. On Siṅhavyāghralakṣaṇa, 5. Gadādhara’s theory of Vyādhikaraṇa, 6. On the Siddhāntalakṣaṇa, 7. Gadādhara’s theory of Anugama of Vyāpti, 8. Gadādhara’s theory of Pakṣatā, 10. Gadādhara’s theory of Avayava, 11. Gadādhara’s theory of Sāmānyanirukti, 12. On Savyabhicara, 13. On Sādharaṇa, 14. On Asādharaṇa and 15. On Satpratipakṣa.
जागदीशीव्याधिकरणम् (Jāgadīśvyādhikaraṇam)
This is a prakaraṇa text on the Nyāya theory of vyāpti written by Jagadīśa. The main theme of the work centres around the nature of vyāpti.Knowledge of vyāpti is the cause of inferential knowledge. If the definition of vyāpti is constructed in terms of avyābhicāritatva, then one could explain avyābhicāritatva in five alternative ways. And none of these alternatives is acceptable, for this understanding of vyāpti would fail to account for kevalānvayi inference. In order to remove this problem, the definition of vyāpti is reconstructed as pratiyogivṛttidharmāvacchinna-pratiyogitākabhāvarupa vyādhikaraṇadharmāvacchinnabhāva. Jagadīśa examines this new definition of vyāpti and offers his justification, refuting all the possible objections.
ध्ब्मसजन्यभावयो: कार्यकारणभावरहस्यम् (Dhvaṃsa- Janyabhāvayoḥ Kārya-Kāraṇabhāvarahasyam)
In this essay, Harirama Tarkavagisa undertakes an analysis of the nature of the causal relationship between a positive effect and destruction. The author examines the nature of the inference viz. Dhvaṃsa is due to vināśa. If one takes into consideration this inference, there must be a hetu here and the hetu could be said to have an upadhi viz. Bhāvatva. Harirama, in this context, presents different ways of formulating the causal relation. The author ends this essay by concluding that the positive effect (janyabhāva) could be said to be the cause of destruction (dhvaṃsa) through the relation of pratiyogitva.
शक्तिबाद (Śaktivādaḥ)
In this book, Gadādhara Bhattāchārya presents a theory of the meaning of words. This work is divided into three chapters: 1. Sāmānyakāṇḍa, 2. Viśesakāṣḍa and 3. Pariśiṣtakāṇḍa. In Sāmānyakaṇḍa, the author undertakes a detailed analysis of vṛtti of words. Here one comes across a definition of śakti in terms of which a word denotes its meaning. The theory of anvitābhidhāna has been refuted. In the Viśeṣakaṇḍa, the author undertakes an analysis of the meaning of words denoting an individual and the meaning of the words denoting a universal. Prabhākara theory of meaning has been refuted. This chapter contains an analysis of indexicals and demonstratives. The third chapter viz. Pariśiṣtakaṇḍa contains a defence of the view that the śakti of a word lies in the individual that is qualified by the corresponding universal. Views of several Mīmāṃsaka philosophers have been critically assessed.
शब्दशक्तिप्रकाशिका (Śabdaśaktiprakāśikā (Part-1))
In this book Jagadīa Tarkālaṃkāra presents a detailed analysis of various aspects of śabdapramāṇa from the perspective of Navya-Nyāya. The book starts with a critical assessment of the views of Vaiśeṣika and Mīmāṃsaka philosophers with regard to the veridicality of śabda as a pramāṇa. This is followed by a discourse on the nature of meaningful words, the nature of prākṛti, pratya, nipāta. A definition of a sentence is formulated. The relation between word and meaning in its different aspects has been presented. The book ends with a discussion on the nature and different kinds of samāsa.
शब्दशक्तिप्रकाशिका (Śabdaśaktiprakāśikā (Vol-2))
In the second volume of Śabdaśaktiprakāśikā, Jagadīśa presents a detailed analysis of Prabhākara’s kāryānvitaśaktivāda and refutes this view. Jagadīśa defends the niravacchinna śaktivāda of the words like ākāśa etc. The view of Raghuntha Siromani with regard to the causal nexus of linguistic understanding has been refuted. Jagadisa offers an analysis of the nature of paribhāṣika śabda and argues that proper names given to individuals do not have śakti and they are to be treated as paribhāśaika śabda. Jagadīśa defends the view that śakti resides in all the three loci: the individual, the universal and the relation of samavāya that holds between an individual and the universal. Jagadīśa also refutes the Mīmāṃsaka view that the sentence has lakṣaṇā and the view of Ālaṃkārika regarding the vyāñjanā relation has been rejected. In this book, Jagadīśa offers a detailed analysis of different kinds of lakṣaṇā and in this context, one comes across a criticism of the Prabhākara thesis that the word having lakṣaṇā is not the cause of syntactic knowledge of the sentence. This book ends with an analysis of the nature of yogaruḍa śabda.
নদিয়া চর্চা (Nadiya Charcha)
The present work is a collection of essays on the history of Nadia. The book is divided into four chapters. The first chapter contains essays on the historical and archaeological importance of Nadia. The second chapter consists of articles focussing on the local religious, political and cultural events in Nadia. The third chapter consists of essays focussing on the sports events and cultural events in Nadia. The last chapter has essays referring to the debate concerning the birthplace of Chaitanyadeva.
নদিয়ার ইতিহাস- চর্চা (Nadiyar Itihas Carca)
This book is a collection of essays on varieties of aspects of life in Nadia, presently a district in West Bengal, India. Since once upon a time Navadvipa was the main centre of Nadia, and later Krisnanagar became the capital from where the ruler ruled his kingdom including Navadvipa, much of the history of Navadvipa is closely associated with the history of Nadia. This book is divided into five chapters. In the first chapter, the essays focus on the different archaeological sites found in Nadia and bring to light their historical importance. The second chapter focuses on the rivers, waterways and road transport of Nadia. In the third chapter, the essays highlight the importance of the local festivals and the contribution of logical artisans with special reference to weavers. The essays in the fourth chapter take note of the contribution of the musicians and theatre personalities of Nadia. The book ends with a chapter containing articles on different religious and political movements that took place in Nadia.
নদিয়ার সংস্কৃতি চর্চা (Nadiyar Samskriti Carca)
The present book contains several essays on the history of Nadia. Some of the essays focus on the history and archaeological importance of Nadia. Some other essays focus on the cultural activities in Navadvipa. There are some other essays that describe the literacy and library in Nadia. Folk theaters (jātrā) and modern theaters in Nadia have also been talked about in some essays.
নবদ্বীপ মহিমা (Nabadwip Mahima)
This book is perhaps the first attempt to portray the detailed history of Navadvipa. The author starts the discourse with the history of the name ‘Navadvipa’ along with a description of the relation of Navadvipa to the rest of Bengal during the ancient period. The second part of the book contains a detailed description of the scholars of Navadvipa who worked on Navya-Nyāya, Smṛti, and Tantra. In the third chapter, one finds an elaborate presentation of Sri Chaitanya’s biography along with a discussion on Vaishnava religion. Since Navadvipa was ruled by the king of Krishnagar for a long time, there is a discussion on the rulers of Krishnagar, their contribution to the Navadvipa scholarship as patrons. The author also adds a discussion on the famous musicians, eminent persons trained in English education and business persons of Navadvipa.