A Comparative of Carvakas ethical theory with western Hedonism

Abstract

This thesis is divided into seven chapters. In the seven chapters I have explained the ethics of newlineCand#257;rvand#257;ka Philosophy, hedonistic thought of Aristippus, Epicurus, Jeremy Bentham and J. S. newlineMill. newlineThe first chapter of my thesis is Introduction. Here I have tried to give a general idea about the newlineCand#257;rvand#257;ka Philosophy and Western hedonism. newlineIn the second chapter of my thesis I have reviewed ten books which are very much relevant newlinewith my Ph. D. thesis. Among these A Short History of Indian Materialism, Sensationalism and newlineHedonism written by Dr. Dakshinaranjan Sastri, LOKand#256;YATA: A Study in Ancient Indian newlineMaterialism by Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya, The Philosophy of Lokand#257;yata by Bijayananda Kar, newlineThe Birth of Hedonism by Kurt Lampe, The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill on Liberty, The newlineSubjection of Women and Utilitarianism by Dale E. Miller are most important. newlineIn the third chapter of my thesis I have discussed the main principles of Cand#257;rvand#257;kasand#8223; hedonism. newlineIn Indian philosophy, the traditional name of the Cand#257;rvand#257;ka philosophy is Lokand#257;yata Darand#347;anaand#8223;. newlineThe Cand#257;rvand#257;kasand#8223; ethical opinions were logically outcomes from their epistemology. Usually newlineepistemology deals with knowledge and tries to relate various ideas that are associated with newlineknowledge. According to the Cand#257;rvand#257;kas, perception is the only authoritative source of valid newlinecognition. They have rejected the validity of an inference, verbal testimony and comparison as newlinesource of valid cognition. However, the metaphysical doctrine of the Cand#257;rvand#257;kasand#8223; is also newlinedependent on their epistemology. In this regard, the Cand#257;rvand#257;kas rejected all kinds of supernatural newlinepowers like- God, soul, hell, heaven, rebirth etc, because they thought that these are all newlineimperceptible things. They have recognized four material elements as the fundamental cause of newlinethe universe, because these four material elements are perceptible and real. These material newlineiv newlineelements are- earth (kand#7779;iti), water (ap), fire (teja) and air (marut). The ethical consideration of newlinethe Cand#257;rvand#257;kasand#8223; is known as hedonism or gross egoistic hedonism. For them, kand#257;ma