Derrida and Indian Philosophy

📘 Book Details

• Author: Harold Coward

• Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 1991

• ISBN: 9788170302742

• Pages: 210

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 9 × 6 inches

• Weight: 384 gm

English Description

A pioneering comparative study of Jacques Derrida’s philosophy and classical Indian thought—revealing surprising resonances and critical differences.

🔹 About the Book:

Derrida and Indian Philosophy builds a powerful intellectual bridge between Western post-structuralist theory and classical Eastern philosophies of language, especially those from Hinduism and Buddhism. In this compelling study, Harold Coward uncovers fascinating parallels between Jacques Derrida's deconstruction and the views of Indian thinkers like Bhartrhari, Śaṅkara, Nāgārjuna, and Sri Aurobindo.

Where Derrida critiques Western philosophy’s privileging of speech over writing, Indian traditions have long engaged in a nuanced reflection on the primacy of the spoken word (śabda) and the limits of language in conveying spiritual truth. This book demonstrates that Eastern thought not only anticipates many of Derrida’s concerns but also offers alternative insights that complement or challenge his work.

🔹 Key Topics Covered:

• Chapter 1: Philosophy East and West

• Chapter 2: Derrida and Bhartrhari on the Origin of Language

• Chapter 3: Derrida and the Speech/Writing Debate

• Chapter 4: Derrida and Śaṅkara

• Chapter 5: Derrida and Aurobindo

• Chapter 6: Derrida and Nāgārjuna

• Chapter 7: Conclusion and Cross-Philosophical Synthesis

Complete with detailed notes and an index, this book is a rich comparative inquiry into how language shapes religious and philosophical worldviews across cultures.

🧠 Why Read This Book?

• Breaks new ground in comparative philosophy and cross-cultural thought

• Bridges postmodern Western theory with ancient Indian philosophical traditions

• Offers a deeper understanding of Derrida’s deconstruction when viewed through the lens of Bhartrhari and Nāgārjuna

• Reveals shared concerns over language, truth, and meaning between East and West

• A must-read for students of philosophy, religious studies, linguistics, and post-structuralism

✍️ About the Author:

Harold Coward is a renowned scholar of comparative religion and philosophy. He is Director of the Calgary Institute for the Humanities and Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary. He has authored notable works like Jung and Eastern Thought and Modern Indian Response to Religious Pluralism, and is widely respected for his in-depth analysis of Indian religious traditions.