Vaisheshika

Founder

Maharshi Kanada (Uluka)

Era

c. 2nd century BCE

Central thesis

Reality is exhaustively classified into a finite set of ontological categories (padarthas), and all composite objects reduce ultimately to indivisible atoms (paramanu). Liberation follows from accurate knowledge of these categories and of the distinctness of the soul from the body. Vaisheshika is the metaphysical and atomistic complement to the logic of Nyaya.

Key texts

Vaisheshika Sutras of Kanada
Padartha-dharma-sangraha of Prashastapada
Nyaya-kandali of Sridhara
Kiranavali of Udayana

Pramana (accepted means of valid knowledge)

Pratyaksha (perception)
Anumana (inference)

View of liberation (moksha)

Nihshreyasa — cessation of suffering through right knowledge (dharma-jnana) of the categories; the self abides in its own pure nature, free of qualities born of contact with the body.

Modern exponents

Wilhelm Halbfass
Karl H. Potter
Shashi Prabha Kumar

Key concepts

Six (later seven) padarthas — dravya, guna, karma, samanya, vishesha, samavaya, abhava
Paramanu (atom) theory
Nine substances incl. atman, manas, akasha, kala, dik
Adrishta (unseen moral force)
Asatkaryavada (effect newly produced, not pre-existent)