Exploring the philosophy of mind in Islamic and Hindu traditions
Dr Ankur Barua, Dr Amal Awad and Dr Hina Khalid are convening a hybrid conference at the Faculty of Divinity, exploring the concepts of mind, body, and self in Islamic and Hindu traditions. The conference aims to provide a comparative analysis that highlights both unique and shared philosophical inquiries into the nature of consciousness, self-knowledge, and the metaphysical aspects of human experience.
We hope to foster an enriched understanding of philosophical ideas that span centuries and continue to influence modern thought. Panels will be centred on the following aims and themes:
- Philosophical foundations: Exploring foundational texts and philosophers from both traditions that discuss the nature of mind and its relation to the body and the spiritual realm.
- Cognitive theory and self-realization: Examining how each tradition addresses the problem of consciousness and the path to self-realization.
- Ethics and the good life: Discussing the ethical frameworks related to the philosophy of mind, such as the development of virtues in Islamic thought and the pursuit of dharma in Hindu philosophy.
- Contemporary implications: Considering how ancient theories can inform modern debates in cognitive science, moral psychology, and ethics.
The discussions will facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and provide a deeper understanding of how historical insights into the mind and self can inform contemporary issues. By examining certain convergences and divergences across Islamic and Hindu philosophies of mind, participants will gain a comprehensive perspective on the universal quest for knowledge and self-understanding.
The programme is available to download as a PDF (see below) and includes full details for each of the papers as well as speaker bios.
Conference schedule
0900–0930: Welcome and registration
0930–1000: Opening remarks
1000–1130: Panel 1: Ontology - what is the soul?
Break time
1200–1330: Panel 2: Epistemology - what does the soul do?
Break for lunch
1500–1630: Panel 3: Cosmology - what is the location and destiny of the soul?
1630–1700: Closing remarks
How to join
For Zoom information please contact Dr Barua (see details below). The convenors are not requiring registration. Attendees should make their own arrangements for lunch.
More details
Download the programme for A matter of resonance (PDF).
This event is co-sponsored by the Spalding Trust and the Cambridge Interfaith Research Forum (small grant scheme).
Featured image: Leaf skeleton, from an original photograph by Ruth Hartnup (via Flickr.com); image license CC BY 2.0 (creativecommons.org).