In this class we will read chapters from Daya Krishna’s philosophical corpus, focusing on his anthology THE ART OF THE CONCEPTUAL – Exploration in a Conceptual Maze Over Three Decades (OUP Delhi, 1989). We will become acquainted with the richness of Indian’s philosophical scene in the second half of the 20th century and early 21th century, and with the uniqueness of Daya Krishna’s philosophy within this landscape. We will explore key notions in his work, which draw on India’s classical philosophical traditions, as well as on Western traditions of thought.   

We will also examine the role of language in Daya Krishna’s thought, vis-à-vis an interdisciplinary project that he initiated, which brought into dialogue (Saṃvād) scholars trained in Western philosophy and paṇḍits, India’s classical scholars, thinking and writing in Sanskrit.  In these dialogues, traditional concepts and agendas are challenged and deconstructed.