Between the sixth and eighth centuries CE, Buddhist philosophers engaged in a rigorous intellectual project to challenge the prevailing social hierarchies of their time. Rather than attempting to reform the non-Buddhist environment, these thinkers focused on dismantling the theoretical foundations used to naturalize caste statuses, specifically targeting the doctrine of the perceptibility of jati. By utilizing both canonical arguments and innovative developments in the apoha theory of exclusion, these philosophers sought to neutralize the pride associated with caste, offering a sophisticated critique that remains a cornerstone of Buddhist philosophical discourse.

Why You Should Read?

• Explores the intersection of classical Buddhist philosophy and social stratification.
• Provides a detailed analysis of the critique against the naturalization of caste statuses.
• Examines the evolution of Buddhist semantics and the influential apoha theory.
• Offers scholarly insight into the intellectual history of early medieval Indian thought.

About the Author

Vincent Eltschinger is a distinguished scholar specializing in the history of Indian philosophy and Buddhist studies. His research focuses on the epistemological and logical traditions of Indian Buddhism, with a particular emphasis on the works of philosophers from the sixth to the eighth centuries. Through his academic contributions, he has provided significant clarity on the complex debates between Buddhist thinkers and their Brahmanical counterparts regarding social and metaphysical categories.