Carvaka (Indian Skepticism and Materialism)


The self = the body

Evidence: such expressions as "I am fat"

Contrary evidence: such expressions as "My body"

Carvaka explanation of the contrary evidence: such expressions are metaphors


Carvaka moral views: hedonism


Carvaka debunking of Hinduism: priests want money


Carvaka attack on inference:

No experience can warrant the universality required; nothing can justify a claim of pervasion (cf. the Nyaya inferential terms)

(Wherever smoke there fire, All S is P, etc.)


The problem of inductive generalization.

One answer: relations among universals.

Another answer: fallibilism coupled with a pragmatic need to guide behavior.