A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE UPANISHADIC PHILOSOPHY AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY (IN THE CONTEXT OF PLATO, KANT AND HEGEL)

Abstract

The Rigveda (1.164.46) states,“Ekaṁ sad viprā bahudhā vadanti,” meaning that the one ultimate truth is expressed in multiple ways by the wise. A philosopher is a person who seeks to understand the ultimate truth. Throughout the ages, human thinkers have sought to unravel the mystery of the existence and this pursuit has emerged across different cultures and historical periods. Whether the Upanishadic thinkers or Western philosophers, all have consistently sought to understand the nature of the existence. There may be superficial variations in their approaches, methods, and procedures; however, they exhibit significant similarities at the level of core principles. This research paper presents a comparative study of the Upanishadic philosophy and the thought of prominent Western philosophers such as Plato, Kant and Hegel.