Causation In Indian Philosophy

Abstract

Causation is an important role in Indian Philosophical system. Every school of Indian Philosophical system are accepted different type of causal relationship. In India both the heterodox and the orthodox philosophers explain the cause and effect according to their own view. Causation was acknowledged as one of the central problems in Indian philosophy. Indian philosophers extensively discussed a number of issues relating to causation, like; Svabhāva-vāda, Pariṇāmavāda, Vivartavāda, Ᾱrambhavāda, Pratītyasamutpādavāda. They stressed the importance of the material cause, rather than (as is western philosophy) the efficient cause. The Indian theories of causation are traditionally classified by one question. That is: “Does the effect pre-exist in its material cause?” Those who answer this question negatively are called Asatkāryavādins (Nyaya, Vaisesika, Buddhism and some followers of Mimansa). While those answering it in positive are called Satkāryavādins (Samkhya, Yoga, Mimansa and Advaita). Some philosophers try to take the middle ground and claim that an effect is both identical and nonidentical with its cause. I will discuss different type of causal relationship accepted by different Indian philosophical system elaborately in this paper.