Charvaka(Lokayata) Indian Philosopher

          Carvaka(Lokayata)       

Charvaka

      Charvaka, also called Lokayata (Sanskrit: “Worldly Ones”), a quasi-philosophical Indian school of materialists who rejected the notion of an afterworld, karma, liberation (moksha), the authority of the sacred scriptures, the Vedas, and the immortality of the self. Of the recognized means of knowledge (pramana), the Charvaka recognized only direct perception (anubhava). Sources critical of the school depict its followers as hedonists advocating a policy of total opportunism; they are often described as addressing princes, whom they urged to act exclusively in their own self-interest, thus providing the intellectual climate in which a text such as Kautilya’s Arthashastra (“The Science of Material Gain”) could be written.

The first philosophy that marks the beginning of the series is Charvaka Philosophy.

The Charvakas hold that perception (pratyaksa) is the only source of knowledge as opposed to the orthodox Nyay philosophy which mentions comparison (upamana), inference (anumana) and testimony (sabda) as the other source. Perception alone is indubitable and certain because that which cannot be experienced by the senses does not exist. Therefore inference and testimony are unreliable sources of knowledge. That which is not experienced by senses, does not exist. This is roughly what the British empiricists (Locke, Berkeley and Hume) say.

Although Charvaka doctrine had disappeared by the end of the medieval period, its onetime importance is confirmed by the lengthy attempts to refute it found in both Buddhist and orthodox Hindu philosophical texts, which also constitute the main sources for knowledge of the doctrine.

If yes, then welcome to the Charvaka world. It is a little known place where materialism reigns supreme and objectivity and realism dominates the scene.

1. Charvaka theory of knowledge: Theory of knowledge or epistemology plays an important role in Charvaka philosophy.The Charvaka philosophers have accepted sensory perception as the only source of knowledge and have rejected the role of inference, verbal testimony, comparison etc. in providing authentic knowledge to a person. This idea that only what is perceptible by the senses is true is the guiding principle behind their philosophy. The refutation of other sources of knowledge is based on strong and well thought logic.

2. Charvaka Metaphysics: Metaphysics deals with the nature of reality and tries to answer the subtle questions like the origin of the universe, existence of soul, God etc. Keeping in line with their epistemelogical doctrine of sense perception, the Charvaka philosophers have rejected the existence of all transcendental entities like soul, God, law of karma, rebirth etc.

Rejection of God- God has been rejected as he cannot be perceived by the senses. The dilemma that arises in this respect is that if there is no God then who created the universe? The Charvakas have accepted the universe to be a made from the four basic elements of air, water, fire and earth (no fifth element in Charvaka). These elements come together due to their inherent nature and give rise to what is called the universe (Does somebody else remember a similar explanation given by the modern scientists in the Big Bang Theory). Thus the world's existence is purely mechanical.

Rejection of soul-Simlar to God, soul also does not exist as it cannot be perceived. A question that arises here is that then how are we supposed to explain consciousness? Charvakas reply that consciousness is a property of the body which arises due to the mixture of the basic elements in a fixed proportion. Just like the mixture of areca nut, lime and betel gives rise to red color on being chewed, these elements also give rise to consciousness when mixed in the right proportion. 

3. Charvaka Ethics: Since there is no soul, there can be no case for liberation. Charvakas believe in the present life and their dictum is to live this life fully. They promote egoistic hedonism, i.e.- pleasure for one's own self. Of the four purusharthas mentioned in Indian scriptures- dharma, artha, kama and moksha; the Charvakas have accepted only Kama and Artha. Though some later Charvakas also accepted Dharma.

4. Importance: Charvaka philosphers were a wake up call to the Indian philosophical community. By their sceptic attitude and rejection of commonly accepted idea they gave the other schools of philosophy some food for thought. They can also be attributed to be frontrunners of modern day scienticism on some grounds. 

Though not an ideal way to lead one's life, it still is one of the ways of Indian philosophy which lays more emphasis on the here and now than the worlds and lives to come.

                                        -Poorav Patel