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ISSN 1076-9005
Volume 15, 2008
Review of Buddhists, Brahmins, and Belief: Epistemology in South Asian Philosophy of Religion
Buddhists, Brahmins, and Belief: Epistemology in South Asian Philosophy of Religion. By Dan Arnold. New York: Columbia University Press, 2005, vii + 318 pages, ISBN: 978-0-231-13281-7 (paperback), $24.50 / £14.50, ISBN 0-231-13280-8 (cloth), $52.00 / £30.50
At the center of Dan Arnold’s thought-provoking book on Indian epistemology is the philosophical critique of Dignāga (sixth century) by the Brahmanical Mīmāṃsā school and the Madhyamaka philosopher Candrakīrti. Arnold’s philosophical reconstruction of this dialogue presents challenging interpretations of both the Mīmāṃsā and the Madhyamaka that are likely to stir up debate and leave their mark on the field. Arnold’s frequent appeals to contemporary theory are extremely helpful in highlighting the issues at stake, as well as in demonstrating the ongoing relevance of classical Indian epistemology to current philosophical discourse. Furthermore, the philosophical discussion of the truth and justification of beliefs, which runs through the entire book, offers valuable insights into the rational evaluation of religious convictions, which lend the book relevance to the general field of Religious Studies.
