Schools of Indian Philosophy
Indian philosophy is traditionally divided into orthodox schools that accept Vedic authority and heterodox schools that reject it. The exam tests school classifications, central doctrines and key terms.
Core rules
- Orthodox: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Mimamsa and Vedanta. Heterodox: Charvaka, Buddhism and Jainism.
- Nyaya specialises in logic and pramanas: perception, inference, comparison and testimony. Vaisesika develops categories and atomism. Samkhya teaches dualism of purusa and prakrti; Yoga adds disciplined practice.
- Mimamsa emphasises Vedic ritual and dharma; Vedanta centres on Brahman and Atman, with Advaita, Visistadvaita and Dvaita readings.
- Buddhism teaches the four noble truths, anatta and dependent origination. Jainism teaches anekantavada and syadvada. Charvaka is materialist and empiricist.
Worked example
Nyaya is orthodox because it accepts Vedic authority. It treats anumana, inference, as a pramana and analyses five steps: pratijna, hetu, udaharana, upanaya and nigamana. That five-membered scheme is a distinctive Nyaya contribution to Indian logic, and it shows why Nyaya is studied alongside Western syllogistic.
Traps
Do not call Buddhism, Jainism or Charvaka orthodox. Do not equate Samkhya dualism with Advaita non-dualism. Syadvada is not scepticism or indecision; it is conditional predication. Charvaka rejects ritual and afterlife, so do not classify it with Mimamsa.