Is There a Root of Being? Indic Philosophies and the Parmenidean Problem

This article is a survey of various philosophical schools, focusing primarily on South Asian ones, and how they address the problem being nonbeing. The early Greek poet Parmenides stated that nonbeing something we cannot actually conceptualize and, thus, speak meaningfully. Plato Aristotle are two examples Western philosophers who came up with different ways resolving issue. As turn to Indic schools philosophy, encounter colorful array approaches. Upanishads gave rise variety points view, though Advaita Vedānta school Adi Śaṅkara has dominated discussion over last few centuries. Other represented in this Sāṃkhya, Buddhism (Therāvada, Sarvāstivāda, Sautantrika, Yogācāra, Mādhyamaka), Vaiśeṣika, Nyāya. Unsurprisingly, each comes constructs frequently mutually exclusive, despite efforts by some writers look past obvious differences not reconcilable. There also conceptual similarities but cultural backdrops limit ability easily transfer ideas from one context other. My method quote short passages central writings (usually “official” sutras) show fit into their particular systems.