An Idealist View of Life

Introduction

Radhakrishnan gave the Hibbert Lectures in Manchester and London in 1929–30; the book appeared in 1932. He diagnoses a crisis of faith in modern civilisation, criticises substitutes for religion such as naturalism, humanism and pragmatism, and defends intuition as a mode of knowing that is distinct from intellect but not opposed to it. Religion in this sense is experience rather than dogma, attested by mystics of all traditions. Drawing on Advaita Vedanta and Western idealism, he describes the universe as an evolving process directed towards spirit. The book was among the works through which Radhakrishnan, who later became President of India, came to be known as an interpreter of Indian thought for Western readers.

Connections

Builds on

• Commentary on the Brahma Sutrasc. 730 · Adi Shankara