Philosophy

The Euro-American conception that
there is a fundamental distinction
between philosophy and religion
reflects unique historical and cultural
circumstances that have no parallel in
many other cultures. The Western philosophical tradition is rooted in Greek
thought and culture, whereas Western
religious traditions primarily have been
shaped by ideas coming out of the
Jewish tradition. The ideas from these
two different sources developed side by
side in Western culture, sometimes in an
uneasy alliance and sometimes at odds
but they were always seen as separate. In
many other cultures, this distinction does
not exist, and such imported concepts
become less helpful in encountering
these cultures. Indian and Hindu culture
have a long history of critical and speculative thought, which could be called philosophical. Yet such thought is never
exercised simply for its own sake, but
always with an underlying religious purpose—to enable one to gain the ultimate
religious goal, final liberation of the soul
(moksha). The different perspectives on
how to do this, known as darshans, are
usually designated as “philosophical
schools.” See also six schools.