Funded projects by Marco Ferrante
Austrian Science Fund Project "Universals in Indian Philosophy of Language"
Marco Ferrante and C... more Austrian Science Fund Project "Universals in Indian Philosophy of Language"
Marco Ferrante and Charles Li
Running time 1 October 2021-30 September 2024
Books by Marco Ferrante
This book examines the theory of consciousness developed by the school of Recognition, an Indian ... more This book examines the theory of consciousness developed by the school of Recognition, an Indian philosophical tradition that thrived around the tenth c. CE in Kashmir, and argues that consciousness has a linguistic nature. It situates the doctrines of the tradition within the broader Indian philosophical context and establishes connections with the contemporary analytic debate.
The book focuses on Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta (tenth c. CE), two Hindu intellectuals belonging to the school of Recognition, Pratyabhijñā in Sanskrit. It argues that these authors promoted ideas that bear a strong resemblance with contemporary ‘higher–order theories’ of consciousness. In addition, the book explores the relationship between the thinkers of the school of Recognition and the thought of the grammarian/philosopher Bhartṛhari (fifth c. CE). The book bridges a gap that still exists between scholars engaged with Western traditions and Sanskrit specialists focused on textual materials. In doing so, the author uses concepts from contemporary philosophy of mind to illustrate the Indian arguments and an interdisciplinary approach with abundant reference to the original sources.
Offering fresh information to historians of Indian thought, the book will also be of interest to academics working on Non-Western Philosophy, Comparative Philosophy, Indian Philosophy, Religion, Hinduism, Tantric Studies and South Asian Studies.
Papers by Marco Ferrante
This article examines the notion of bādha or 'suspension' , one of the primary hermeneutical dev... more This article examines the notion of bādha or 'suspension' , one of the primary hermeneutical devices the Mīmāṃsā school of Sanskrit philosophy implemented to avoid seeming clashes between different commands of the Veda. Through bādha, a Vedic injunction can temporarily be suspended to allow for the unchallenged application of another. In all other cases, the first command remains valid, and its authority is therefore not undermined. This essay analyses the history of the device within early Mīmāṃsā, elaborates on how to decide which of two clashing commands should be suspended, and examines the crucial distinction between a suspension of something 'obtained' and that of something that is 'not obtained yet' .
Verità e bellezza. Essays in Honour of Raffaele Torella, 2022
Journal of Indian Philosophy, 2013
Although somewhat neglected in the scholarly debate, Vṛṣabhadeva's commentary (known as Sphuṭākṣa... more Although somewhat neglected in the scholarly debate, Vṛṣabhadeva's commentary (known as Sphuṭākṣarā or Paddhati, possibly 8 th c. CE) on Vākyapadīya's first chapter, offers a remarkable analysis of Bhartṛhari's views on metaphysics and philosophy of language. Vākyapadīya's first four kārikās deals with ontological issues, defining the key elements of Bhartṛhari's non-dualistic edifice such as the properties of the unitary principle, its powers, the role of time and the ontological status of worldly objects. Vṛṣabhadeva's interpretation of the kārikās in question is intriguing and seems to be guided by the urgency to find a solution to the riddle which every non-dualistic theory has to face: how is it possible to postulate a unitary principle of reality when reality is cognized as multiple? In accomplishing the task Vṛṣabhadeva proposes various solutions (some of which are based on concepts which are hardly detectable in Vākyapadīya and appear close to the ones propounded in certain trends of Advaita Vedānta), finally suggesting an explanation which, being based on the pragmatic aspect of language, is altogether consistent with Bhartṛhari's theoretical picture.
Oxford Bibliographies, 2022
Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Religion, 2021
A. Graheli (ed.). The Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Indian Philosophy of Language, 2020
The expression Pratyabhijñā ('Recognition') refers to the doctrines of a number of scholars and sp... more The expression Pratyabhijñā ('Recognition') refers to the doctrines of a number of scholars and spiritual teachers who lived and taught in Kashmir between the tenth and eleventh century CE. This philosophical tradition prospered in the religious framework of tantric Śaivism, and its primary purpose, already evident in its name, was to recognize the presence of Śiva at all levels of reality. 1 The three main theoreticians of the school -Somānanda (900-950), Utpaladeva (925-975) and Abhinavagupta (975-1025) -established and refined the main tenets of the tradition in approximately one hundred years' time. 2 Somānanda, the founder of the school, emerged as a leading thinker and guru in the heterogeneous setting of tenth century Kashmir, and his main work, the Śivadṛṣṭi, was probably addressed to an audience of tantric initiates. 3 His pupil Utpaladeva broadened the perspective of the tradition and was responsible for much if not all its theoretical and argumentative elaboration. His major work, the Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā (ĪPK), 4 put the Pratyabhijñā in the wider arena of Indian philosophical debate, in active engagement with beliefs and arguments of other traditions. Finally, Abhinavagupta closed the most creative phase of the school by commenting Utpaladeva's work twice. 5 He possibly was the most eclectic of the three 1. The school is perhaps the most sophisticated outcome of that composite movement of systematization and elaboration of tantric material that emerged at the end of the first millennium CE and which is sometimes labelled 'post-scriptural exegesis'. Pratyabhijñā's staunch non-dualism is rooted in scriptural sources that were held as authoritative in contemporary Kashmir and which foregrounded the dynamic and unifying role of the feminine power of the god, the śakti, like the Siddhayogeśvarīmatatantra, the Mālinīvijayottaratantra and the Vijñānabhairava.
Journal of Indian Philosophy, 2019
The article examines the impact the grammarian/philosopher Bhartṛhari (460–510) had on the way th... more The article examines the impact the grammarian/philosopher Bhartṛhari (460–510) had on the way the ‘School of Recognition’ (Pratyabhijñā, tenth/eleventh c. CE) elaborated the notion that knowledge and consciousness have a close relationship with language. The paper first lays out Bhartṛhari’s ideas, showing that his theses are rationally defensible and philosophically refined. More specifically, it claims that the grammarian is defending a view which is in many respects similar to ‘higher-order theories’ of consciousness advanced by some contemporary philosophers of mind. In the second part, the paper shows how Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta adopted Bhartṛhari’s scheme without significant alteration.
Rivista degli Studi Orientali, 2017
The article addresses a critical problem in the history of South Asian philosophy, namely the nat... more The article addresses a critical problem in the history of South Asian philosophy, namely the nature of the 'knowledge of knowledge' (svasaṃvedana). In particular, it investigates how thé Saiva tantric school of the Pratyabhijñā (10th–11th c. CE) used the notion as an argument against the Buddhists' ideas on the nature of the self. The paper then considers the possibility that the source of thé Saivas' discussion was the work of the philosopher/grammarian Bhartṛhari (5th c. CE).
The paper is part of the proceedings of the Conference of the Society for Tantric Studies, edited by Glen A. Hayes and S. Timalsina.
“Bhartṛhari and verbal testimony. A hyper-antireductionist approach?” in D. Cuneo–E. Freschi–C. F... more “Bhartṛhari and verbal testimony. A hyper-antireductionist approach?” in D. Cuneo–E. Freschi–C. Formigatti (eds.). Not Far Afield: Asian Perspectives on Sexuality, Testimony and Print Culture. A Coffee Break Project. Kervan 21: 227-246, 2017.
The grammarian and philosopher Bhartṛhari (5th. c. CE) developed a philosophy that is essentially characterized by the prominent role language has in structuring humans’ efforts to cope with reality. Within this broader picture, he adopted an epistemological standpoint that was somehow at odds with the standard view of other South Asian thinkers, usually founded on a careful and systematic distinction of the means able to lead to a reliable cognitive event (technically called pramāṇas). Bhartṛhari claimed that such an interpretation is rather artificial, and that a cognition is actually a multifaceted process, whose single components are almost always hard to pinpoint. His main theoretical contribution consists of affirming that such a multifaceted cognitive act is informed and shaped by language.
The article deals with Bhartṛhari’s epistemology by discussing the author’s opinion on the nature of testimony. Furthermore, it addresses the question whether pure inference should always be regarded as an accurate way of acquiring knowledge.
Rivista degli Studi Orientali, 2019
Rivista degli Studi Orientali., 2016
“On ṛṣis and yogins: Immediate and Mediate Extraordinary Cognitions in Early Brahmanical Thought”... more “On ṛṣis and yogins: Immediate and Mediate Extraordinary Cognitions in Early Brahmanical Thought”. In R. Torella–M. Franceschini–T. Pontillo–C. Pieruccini–A. Rigopoulos–F. Sferra (eds.). Proceedings of the Meeting of the Italian Association of Sanskrit Studies. Rivista degli Studi Orientali. Supplemento 2, vol. LXXXIX, 2016, 41-62.
Vṛṣabhadeva’s Sphuṭākṣarā, a commentary on the first chapter of Bhartṛhari’s
Vākyapadīya and its... more Vṛṣabhadeva’s Sphuṭākṣarā, a commentary on the first chapter of Bhartṛhari’s
Vākyapadīya and its Vṛtti, offers a peculiar interpretation of the monistic ideas exposed at the
beginning of the mūla text. The reflection on the status of ordinary reality and its relation with the
unitary metaphysical principle is particularly interesting. Although according to Bhartṛhari’s
perspective the entities of the world are real, the Sphuṭākṣarā offers a more intricate picture in which
different degrees of reality seem involved. Furthermore, the author adopts hermeneutical tools that are
unusual in Bhartṛhari’s texts, and comparable to those of Advaita Vedānta. In particular, the article
will deal with Vṛṣabhadeva’s use of the notion of ‘inexpressibility’ (anirvacanīyatva), as well as with
other concepts which are typical of the scholastic phase of Advaita. In discussing these affinities the
paper will also touch upon the problem of Vṛṣabhadeva’s historical collocation.
Bhartṛhari's Vākyapadīya (5th century AD) is a seminal work in the history of Sanskrit grammatica... more Bhartṛhari's Vākyapadīya (5th century AD) is a seminal work in the history of Sanskrit grammatical tradition. It offers an original blending of linguistic and philosophical ideas that will have a strong impact in the ensuing history of Indian speculation. Among other issues, the work endorses the idea that language is capable to bring about spiritual consequences that goes far beyond the boundaries of the ordinary experience. In a nutshell, language has a soteriological import. In particular the article deals with a puzzling expression contained in the first chapter of the work -śabdapūrvayoga -which seems to embody Bhartṛhari's peculiar conception of language as a tool for obtaining "salvation".
Uploads
Funded projects by Marco Ferrante
Marco Ferrante and Charles Li
Running time 1 October 2021-30 September 2024
Books by Marco Ferrante
The book focuses on Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta (tenth c. CE), two Hindu intellectuals belonging to the school of Recognition, Pratyabhijñā in Sanskrit. It argues that these authors promoted ideas that bear a strong resemblance with contemporary ‘higher–order theories’ of consciousness. In addition, the book explores the relationship between the thinkers of the school of Recognition and the thought of the grammarian/philosopher Bhartṛhari (fifth c. CE). The book bridges a gap that still exists between scholars engaged with Western traditions and Sanskrit specialists focused on textual materials. In doing so, the author uses concepts from contemporary philosophy of mind to illustrate the Indian arguments and an interdisciplinary approach with abundant reference to the original sources.
Offering fresh information to historians of Indian thought, the book will also be of interest to academics working on Non-Western Philosophy, Comparative Philosophy, Indian Philosophy, Religion, Hinduism, Tantric Studies and South Asian Studies.
Papers by Marco Ferrante
The paper is part of the proceedings of the Conference of the Society for Tantric Studies, edited by Glen A. Hayes and S. Timalsina.
The grammarian and philosopher Bhartṛhari (5th. c. CE) developed a philosophy that is essentially characterized by the prominent role language has in structuring humans’ efforts to cope with reality. Within this broader picture, he adopted an epistemological standpoint that was somehow at odds with the standard view of other South Asian thinkers, usually founded on a careful and systematic distinction of the means able to lead to a reliable cognitive event (technically called pramāṇas). Bhartṛhari claimed that such an interpretation is rather artificial, and that a cognition is actually a multifaceted process, whose single components are almost always hard to pinpoint. His main theoretical contribution consists of affirming that such a multifaceted cognitive act is informed and shaped by language.
The article deals with Bhartṛhari’s epistemology by discussing the author’s opinion on the nature of testimony. Furthermore, it addresses the question whether pure inference should always be regarded as an accurate way of acquiring knowledge.
Vākyapadīya and its Vṛtti, offers a peculiar interpretation of the monistic ideas exposed at the
beginning of the mūla text. The reflection on the status of ordinary reality and its relation with the
unitary metaphysical principle is particularly interesting. Although according to Bhartṛhari’s
perspective the entities of the world are real, the Sphuṭākṣarā offers a more intricate picture in which
different degrees of reality seem involved. Furthermore, the author adopts hermeneutical tools that are
unusual in Bhartṛhari’s texts, and comparable to those of Advaita Vedānta. In particular, the article
will deal with Vṛṣabhadeva’s use of the notion of ‘inexpressibility’ (anirvacanīyatva), as well as with
other concepts which are typical of the scholastic phase of Advaita. In discussing these affinities the
paper will also touch upon the problem of Vṛṣabhadeva’s historical collocation.
Marco Ferrante and Charles Li
Running time 1 October 2021-30 September 2024
The book focuses on Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta (tenth c. CE), two Hindu intellectuals belonging to the school of Recognition, Pratyabhijñā in Sanskrit. It argues that these authors promoted ideas that bear a strong resemblance with contemporary ‘higher–order theories’ of consciousness. In addition, the book explores the relationship between the thinkers of the school of Recognition and the thought of the grammarian/philosopher Bhartṛhari (fifth c. CE). The book bridges a gap that still exists between scholars engaged with Western traditions and Sanskrit specialists focused on textual materials. In doing so, the author uses concepts from contemporary philosophy of mind to illustrate the Indian arguments and an interdisciplinary approach with abundant reference to the original sources.
Offering fresh information to historians of Indian thought, the book will also be of interest to academics working on Non-Western Philosophy, Comparative Philosophy, Indian Philosophy, Religion, Hinduism, Tantric Studies and South Asian Studies.
The paper is part of the proceedings of the Conference of the Society for Tantric Studies, edited by Glen A. Hayes and S. Timalsina.
The grammarian and philosopher Bhartṛhari (5th. c. CE) developed a philosophy that is essentially characterized by the prominent role language has in structuring humans’ efforts to cope with reality. Within this broader picture, he adopted an epistemological standpoint that was somehow at odds with the standard view of other South Asian thinkers, usually founded on a careful and systematic distinction of the means able to lead to a reliable cognitive event (technically called pramāṇas). Bhartṛhari claimed that such an interpretation is rather artificial, and that a cognition is actually a multifaceted process, whose single components are almost always hard to pinpoint. His main theoretical contribution consists of affirming that such a multifaceted cognitive act is informed and shaped by language.
The article deals with Bhartṛhari’s epistemology by discussing the author’s opinion on the nature of testimony. Furthermore, it addresses the question whether pure inference should always be regarded as an accurate way of acquiring knowledge.
Vākyapadīya and its Vṛtti, offers a peculiar interpretation of the monistic ideas exposed at the
beginning of the mūla text. The reflection on the status of ordinary reality and its relation with the
unitary metaphysical principle is particularly interesting. Although according to Bhartṛhari’s
perspective the entities of the world are real, the Sphuṭākṣarā offers a more intricate picture in which
different degrees of reality seem involved. Furthermore, the author adopts hermeneutical tools that are
unusual in Bhartṛhari’s texts, and comparable to those of Advaita Vedānta. In particular, the article
will deal with Vṛṣabhadeva’s use of the notion of ‘inexpressibility’ (anirvacanīyatva), as well as with
other concepts which are typical of the scholastic phase of Advaita. In discussing these affinities the
paper will also touch upon the problem of Vṛṣabhadeva’s historical collocation.
The workshop is dedicated to the translation and the analysis of the last stanzas (verses 102-106 in S. Iyer’s edition) of the Jātisamuddeśa, a subchapter of Bhartṛhari’s Vākyapadīya (5th. c. CE). The section largely focuses on the discussion and the evaluation of different theories of universals. At the end of it, in the last few stanzas, the discussion centres on the self-revealing nature of cognitions, a topic that will become crucial in the ensuing development of Indian philosophy, and a matter of fierce controversy among schools. In the workshop we are going to read Bhartṛhari’s stanzas with the aid of the 10th. c. commentary by Helārāja. The purpose is to assess Bhartṛhari’s contribution to the question, with particular reference to the influence he might have had on the way the Pratyabhijñā school explored the very same issue. Copies of the texts will be distributed during the workshop. Please email the organiser if you want to receive them in advance. For organisational purposes, you are kindly invited to announce your participation with an email to [email protected].
Participants
Vincenzo Vergiani (University of Cambridge)
Daniele Cuneo (Leiden University)
Interested scholars of the IKGA
Nonetheless, forerunners of the debate can be found in the speculation of earlier thinkers such as Bhartṛhari (5th c. CE), the major exponent of the grammatical tradition (vyākaraṇa) in the first millennium CE. In his magnum opus, the Vākyapadīya, Bhartṛhari not only accepts the existence of persons whose cognitive abilities go beyond the ordinary, but conflates these individuals with the śistas, the socio-linguistic elites vyākaraṇa regards as the source of correct linguistic usage. By elaborating on M. Deshpande’s earlier study on the notion of śiṣṭa, this paper will largely focus on the way Bhartṛhari conciliates the idea of people having extra-ordinary cognitions with a robust defense of the Veda as the ultimate source of knowing reality. By doing so, Bhartṛhari is able to provide an analysis that radically differs from that of the Mīmāṃsā, and which offers an interesting attempt to accommodate extra-ordinary cognitions within the purview of Brahmanical philosophy.
The summer school will introduce participants to the epistemological theory used in Sanskrit texts. It is aimed at anyone interested in reading scientific Sanskrit works that refer to epistemological concepts. Participants will be able to work intensively with established experts based at the IKGA and the ISTB, centres renowned internationally for the study of South Asian philosophy of knowledge. The course will touch upon a variety of issues in Sanskrit epistemology, such as those of validity (prāmāṇya), the instruments of knowledge (pramāṇas), and the nature of truth. The participants will be introduced to the main theories of different schools, including Nyāya, Vyākaraṇa, Buddhist, and Jaina thought. Lectures by experts on individual subjects will be combined with focused readings of relevant texts in the original Sanskrit.
This talk considers some theories of consciousness elaborated by philosophers in premodern India. It focusses on the contribution of a non-dualist tradition of thought, the school of Recognition (Pratyabhijñā in Sanskrit), which thrived around the tenth c. CE. The school held the view that consciousness is a pervasive phenomenon and that all objects, properties and processes are eventually reducible to it. More specifically, the presentation will discuss how the main philosophers of the school defended the idea that consciousness is impossible without language, a notion they inherited from an earlier thinker, the grammarian Bhartṛhari (fifth c. CE).