Tattva Journal of Philosophy

Kant and Heidegger on the freedom that eludes ‘the political’

2023-07-21T18:38:16+00:00

By considering the transcendentalism of Kant and Heidegger as primarily oriented towards the concerns of practical philosophy, this paper explores some of the similarities in their notions of political community and their relation to freedom. It argues that, despite the differences in their philosophical registers, these similarities lead both of them to hold that ‘the political’ is a deficient mode of community. Certain transcendence of experience allows them both to change how a human being relates to another. Heidegger follows Kant’s lead in separating the concern of freedom from goodness and distances it even further from the means-ends reasoning by exiting the subject-object paradigm. The alternatives to the deficient political community, the kingdom of ends in Kant and the authentic community in Heidegger, too have potentially comparable facets. The paper concludes that their arguments leave an account of freedom that ‘must’ remain elusive for political action.

Heidegger's Being-in-the-World: A Relation between Man and the Environment

2025-01-25T10:15:23+00:00

Martin Heidegger, a foundational existentialist philosopher, introduced the concept of Dasein, which defines a unique relationship between humans and their environment. Dasein, meaning “being there” in German, denotes a mode of existence distinct from non-Dasein, emphasizing an engaged presence rather than a detached, objective stance. This paper explores how Dasein underpins human-environment relationships within existential philosophy, aiming to clarify its role in shaping ecological and ethical consciousness. It further examines Heidegger’s critique of intellectualism and rationalism, highlighting how Dasein establishes a basis for meaningful connections beyond abstract reasoning. Through Dasein, we propose a framework for environmental ethics that emphasizes direct, authentic interaction with the world, challenging modern perceptions of detachment.

Elusive Difference in Taylor’s Conception of Authentic Identity

2024-05-15T18:38:01+00:00

Based on the tradition of Western intellectual history, Charles Taylor draws authenticity as a life good of self-fulfilment linked with the constitution of self-identity. According to Taylor, Authenticity has explicit roots in the moral sources of modernity that he sketches in Sources of the Self. The defence of authenticity as a valid moral ideal that Taylor proposes in The Ethics of Authenticity is based on the commonality of moral sources in Taylor’s description of modernity. Taylor opens a rethinking of authenticity such that it is not self-enclosed and evasive of public articulation to be subjected to critical evaluation. This paper critically engages with Taylor’s account of authenticity and its historical sources in his works. The paper argues that Taylor’s authenticity is entangled in the notion of identity and its quest for fundamental ontology, which restricts his conception of authenticity both in its own right and in the political experience of deliverance from the modern predicament. The paper contends that any notion of authenticity must be sympathetic to Taylor’s criticism of self-determining freedom. However, authenticity must also be compassionate to ‘difference’ to accommodate uniqueness and plurality adequately.

Keywords: authenticity, moral sources, Charles Taylor, identity, difference

Understanding truth through the lens of Jiddu Krishnamurti

2025-02-06T03:15:02+00:00

This paper aims to bring to light how truth is being interpreted by the 20^th century radical spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti. As far as the concept of truth is concerned, it is a fundamental concept in Philosophy; it has been given numerous interpretations by different philosophers. Krishnamurti, too, has offered his view on truth. He views truth as revelation of a thing in its true nature. And in his view, this revelation cannot not be brought about by any path. That is why, this paper also makes an analysis of the mechanism through which truth is stated to be attained according to Krishnamurti. Besides, it contains author’s observation on the theme.

Metaphysics of Communication

2024-12-16T08:07:47+00:00

The Metaphysics of Communication explores the foundational principles of communication that extend beyond the transmission of information, delving into the nature, intention, and ontological significance of linguistic interactions. This paper presents a comparative analysis of various philosophical traditions, including Western thinkers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein, alongside Indian philosophical perspectives like Bhartrihari’s Sphoṭa theory and the Nyaya concept of śabda-pramāṇa. Central to this investigation is the question of whether language inherently communicates intention or functions through an underlying mechanism rooted in shared cultural practices and contexts. Wittgenstein’s notion of forms of life suggests that language gains meaning from its use within communal activities, where shared practices enable understanding. However, this shared understanding remains fluid, resisting confinement within fixed frameworks of reference. This insight challenges the assumption that intention is a stable and fully transmittable entity. In contrast, Bhartrhari’s Sphoṭa theory posits an indivisible unity of sound and meaning, emphasizing an intuitive grasp of the speaker’s intention. By juxtaposing these perspectives, the analysis examines the ontological and epistemological dimensions of communication, highlighting how diverse intellectual traditions address the questions of intention, meaning, and the limitations of linguistic representation. This study ultimately argues that communication is not merely a mechanical transfer of ideas but a dynamic interplay of intention, context, and shared existence, revealing the profound connection between language and human experience.

“Talents” and the Meanings They Make

2025-07-03T05:09:12+00:00

In this article, I wish to explore specifically Jesus’s parable of the talents in the biblical texts using the three-fold descriptive model, depicted as riddle, example and challenge parables, by John Dominic Crossan. I aim to analyse the theme, structure and delivery of this parable employing ideas of orality as represented by Walter J Ong and Alessandro Portelli. I argue that the parable represents a complex formulation of ideas and reflections, including a cultural-political critique of the history and culture of 1CE Palestine. By way of conclusion, I submit that Jesus’s talents parable goes beyond simple moral narrative to critical, provocative reflections of lived experience, its culture and its politics.