Radhakrishnans Thought and Existentialism :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Radhakrishnans persuasion and ExistentialismABSTRACT I attempt to show the similarities between the viewpoints of Radhakrishnan and the existentialist philosopher thinkers. The philosophy of Radhakrishnan is an attempt to rede and reconstruct the Advaita Vedanta of Sankara in the light of scientific knowledge and techniques of new-fashioned time. Existentialism is an attitude and medical prognosis that emphasizes gracious existence. For Radhakrishnan, the human is essentially subject, not object. The existentialists assert that the human is not an object to be known, but a subject. Both Radhakrishnan and the existentialists emphasize the immense potential and put forward day condition of humanity. Radhakrishnan acknowledges the reality of suffering and misery of worldly existence. The existentialists confine that there are antinomies, contradictions and distress at the root of existence. Radhakrishnan is concerned with press release as a state of freedom. Freedom is the cent ral concept near which the existential enquiry revolves. Though Radhakrishnan has certain affinities with existentialism, he regards it as a stage in the humans pilgrimage through life. The philosophy of Radhakrishnan is an attempt to reinterpret and reconstruct the Advaita Vedanta of Sankara in the light of scientific knowledge and technique of modern time. The philosophy of Advaita follows the basic tenets of the Upanishadic philosophy. Radhakrishnan does not propound any system of philosophy. He is bound to tradition like his contemporaries. But, his philosophy is distinct from others by around of its peculiar features. It is based on his own experiences and reflections.Existentialism is an attitude and outlook that emphasizes human existence. Existence precedes essence-this is the maxim of existentialism. Existentialism deals with the problems the individual has to face in life, with the slipway how he faces them, with his feelings and emotions and above all, with his outlook on life and experience. It recognises freedom and state of the individual man.Soren Kirkegaard is regarded as the father of Existentialism. He st fine arts discussion on it. It is however developed in the hands of subsequent thinkers like Karl Jaspers, Gabriel Marcel, Martin Heidegger and Jean capital of Minnesota Sartre. It must be admitted that there are divergent interests and points of view at heart existentialism.There are certain affinities between the viewpoints of Rahdakrishnan and the existentialist thinkers.Indian thought, in general investigates into the self. Radhakrishnan also maintains that In India, Atmanam Viddhi, know the self, sums up the law and the prophets. (1) We do hear in this Atmanam Viddhi the voice of existentialism.The two great propositions of the Upanishads are Tattvamasi (Thou art that) and Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman).