The Self in Indian Philosophy

In a million ways our idea of ourselves has been questioned as we journeyed into modernity. From Descartes' idea of self as a lone spectator to Hume's rejection of any core soul, Western philosophy has moved toward the belief that there is no 'Ghost in the Machine'. Recently scholars have suggested Buddhist philosophy’s ‘No-Self’ view confirms this. But Indian philosophy contains other provocative ideas of the mind - treating it as pure awareness veiled by as a personal 'Identity-Story', or a whirlwind-like pattern in matter, or a sovereign power of mastery over our ideas and body.

In this annual GRIPh lecture Jessica Frazier will look at alternative ideas of what we essentially are. Can Indian philosophy offer a deeper understanding of the mind's true nature?

Jessica Frazier teaches philosophy and religion at the University of Oxford, focusing on both Indian thought, and the European phenomenological tradition. She is a frequent contributor to media and public philosophy forums, and her research focuses on the ways that being, selfhood, value and divinity have been construed in different philosophical contexts, from classical India to twentieth century philosophy. Her publications include Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (Bloomsbury 2017), Against Infinite Nothingness: Ultimate Ground vs Metaphysical Nihilism (Neue Zeitschrift für Systematicsche Theologie Und Religionsphilosophie 2024), and the forthcoming Modern Sublime: Gadamer on Truth, Beauty and Globalism (Palgrave Macmillan 2025).

The GRIPh Lecture is the annual lecture of the Groningen Institute of Philosophy. This lecture is organised by the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Groningen, in cooperation with Studium Generale Groningen.

Are you not able to attend the lecture? Watch the livestream here.