Darshanshastra Ke Srot

About this book

Different people of different periods have contributed positively or negatively in their own way to the mainstream of world philosophy. Many streams are mixed in this main stream, with which this series of eight books has been prepared to introduce the general readers. Pro. The book presented by Devi Prasad Chattopadhyay is the first episode of this series. Shri Chattopadhyay is the editor-in-chief of this series and also the author of the present book titled 'Sources of Philosophy'. Therefore, this book of his is in a way a pre-book of the whole series. In this book, as the title suggests, he explores the sources of philosophy, and lays the foundation for the subsequent books in the series to inculcate the culture of reading and understanding. Starting from 'Why philosophy is needed', he considers the gradual development of primitive man and then discusses this question by underlining the beginning of Karma-division in the society, urban revolution, role of religion in life etc. How philosophy was born and developed. In the process of all this discussion, the readers also get a brief introduction to the ancient thought-methods of the world. Pro. Chattopadhyay here questions the claim made about Thales that he was the first scientist. He has done this while discussing the part related to Uddalak Aruni of 'Chhandogya Upanishad'. According to him, a serious revision of the history of world science is necessary in view of Uddalak Aruni's clear trend towards science. Needless to say that Prof. Inspired by Chattopadhyay's social vision and intellectual neutrality, this book will be of interest to scholars of philosophy as well as to readers who are just beginning to study philosophy.