Ādi Śaṅkara

Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, the author of numerous commentaries and pedagogical tracts, is the seminal philosopher in Hinduism, especially its “advaita vedānta” school. This course will address his key texts, ideas and interpretive strategies. Both his influence on the commentarial tradition and his insightful clarification of earlier texts will be explored; specifically focusing on his commentaries on the Upaniṣads and the Bhagavadgītā. How does Śaṅkara, for example, explicate his philosophy through dialogue with other schools of philosophy such as Sāṅkhya? In the final portion of the class, we will address some critical and historical views and debates within contemporary scholarship.