Two conceptions of the relation between the self and God: The debate between Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Document Type
Contribution to a Book
Publication Title
Vaiṣṇava Concepts of God: Philosophical Perspectives
DOI
10.4324/9781003432081-9
First Page
101
Last Page
115
Abstract
In this chapter, I compare Shankara and Ramanuja’s views on how to understand the relation between the self and God as captured by the phrase “atman is Brahman”. I argue that Shankara offers a strict identity thesis rather than a sortal identity, constitution, or predicative thesis. I then present Ramanuja’s adjectival thesis. I show that Shankara’s thesis faces a problem due to the transitivity of identity and the reality or illusory nature of the self in relation to God.
Department
Philosophy
Recommended Citation
Anand Jayprakash Vaidya. "Two conceptions of the relation between the self and God: The debate between Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja" Vaiṣṇava Concepts of God: Philosophical Perspectives (2023): 101-115. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003432081-9
