School of thought

Classical Samkhya

School

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Classification

Period
c. 350-450 CE
Regions
south asia
Domains
Metaphysics , Philosophy of Mind

Overview

Classical Samkhya is the formulation represented by Ishvarakrishna's Samkhyakarika (c. 350–450 CE). It distinguishes a plurality of conscious purushas from unconscious prakriti and explains liberation through discriminative knowledge of their difference. Kapila is the tradition's legendary founder; earlier ideas now called proto-Samkhya are antecedents, not the classical school itself.

Key ideas

  • Purusha and Prakriti: Classical Samkhya distinguishes many eternal purushas (pure, inactive consciousnesses) from a single eternal prakriti (active, unconscious nature). Their conjunction accounts for experience and the evolution of the manifest world.
  • Three Gunas: All of material nature is composed of three qualities (gunas): sattva (light, goodness), rajas (activity, passion), and tamas (darkness, inertia). Their interplay drives all change.
  • Discriminative Knowledge: Liberation (kaivalya) occurs when purusha recognizes its complete distinction from prakriti — 'I am not this body, these thoughts, these emotions.'

Key figures

Kapila (legendary founder) · Ishvarakrishna

Influenced by

Later connections

  • Yoga Philosophy Influenced by this tradition
  • Vedanta Reacted to this tradition

    Śaṅkara's Brahma-Sūtra commentary rejects Sāṃkhya's claim that unconscious prakṛti could produce an ordered cosmos, arguing that only conscious Brahman can be its source.

References