You are invited to the next Colloquia in our Winter 2022 Series on March 4th, 2022, with Prof. Alison Simmons from Harvard University.
About the Event:
“Beyond Dualism: The Case of Anne Conway”
Lecture by Alison Simmons, Lecturer in Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy, University College London
February 18th, 2022
3:00-5:00 p.m
BUCH A 201
Abstract:
In classical South Asia, philosophers often claimed that memory is not a means of knowledge acquisition. But some-especially Jain epistemologists-dissented from this standard view. They argued that conscious memories can help us learn novel truths about past objects and experiences. In doing so, these thinkers countenanced the possibility that we can acquire purely self-locating knowledge-knowledge about ourselves or our spatial or temporal location-by means of memory alone. In this talk, I will focus on a Nyaya philosopher, Udayana (10th-11th century CE), who defended the standard view against this objection. I will reconstruct Udayana’s account of memory, and explain how he rules out the possibility of gaining purely self-locating knowledge by means of memory alone.
About Nilanjan Das
Nilanjan Das is a Lecturer in Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at University College London. Before coming to London, he completed a PhD at MIT, was a post-doctoral fellow at UNC Chapel Hill and taught at NYU Shangai.
Nilanjan works on epistemology and Sanskrit philosophy.
In epistemology, Nilanjan likes thinking about connections between self-knowledge and rationality. In Sanskrit philosophy, he tends to focus on debates between Buddhist and Brahminical thinkers about the nature of the self, knowledge, and self-knowledge. He is currently writing a book on the 12th century Indian philosopher and poet, Śrīharṣa.
Note: “Due to COVID restrictions, please note that this event is closed to members of the public.”
