Indian Realism

The book is structured around the debate between Yogācāra idealism and Indian realist systems. Chapter I presents the Yogācāra Vijñānavāda position, especially its claim that cognition is self-luminous and that external objects are not independently real. Chapter II examines Sautrāntika realism and its representative theory of perception, while Chapter III studies the Yogācāra critique of that representative theory. Chapter IV discusses Jaina realism, including its pluralistic ontology and criticism of Yogācāra idealism. Chapter V analyzes Sāṅkhya-Yoga realism and its defense of external objects against Buddhist subjectivism. Chapter VI turns to Mīmāṃsā realism, especially its arguments for the independent existence of perceived objects and its critique of idealism. Chapter VII presents Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika realism, focusing on perception, inference, causality, and the objective reality of the external world. Chapter VIII concludes with the Vedānta critique of subjective idealism, showing how Vedāntic thinkers respond to Yogācāra arguments while also developing their own metaphysical standpoint. Across these chapters, the book offers a rigorous comparative analysis of how Indian philosophical schools defended realism against Buddhist idealism.