Philosophical Archaeology (The Indian Scenario)

The discursive tension between theory and data creatively constitutes the desideratum for archaeology to mature as a scientific discipline .archaeology is gradually being empowered to imaginatively predict backwards and develop encouraging multilineal cultural specific theoretical foundations.Here lies its relevance.As multi – disciplinary or inter –disciplinary approaches or inter –disciplinary approaches improve the data –sets ,explicit efforts are being made to propound malleable historicist theories with minimal assault on the past reality without conceivable distortions.

Of course, the past happenings are perceived in the plurality of non –referential yet judgemental references .This inference as sasvat anumana is acceptable to most archaeologists. Obviously, an obsession with rigid or near –sighted empiricism is endlessly inconclustive .It remains an impediment to theoretical condensations .Explanations for the past phenomena require logical cohesiveness instead of a pre-occupation with hyper - retionalism and pseudo-scientific deductivism.

The proposed essays explore the contributions of ancestral Indian thought towards teleological disclosures regarding the past inter –relationships.This engenders a consideration for intentionality and predominance of will. The study will reinstate the role of latent causation in the growth of societies.

Vijneshu mohan has had a brilliant academic career with first position in his M.A. from the kurukshetra University . Subsequently, he visited the U.S.A. on a scholarship of the Ohio University. Thereafter he won the prestigious Cambridge Nehru scholarship at the University of Cambridge.

He has several research publications and presentations in international/national conferences and seminars .He taught Archaeology at the Punjab University, Chandigarh.

The discursive tension between theory and data creatively constitutes the desideratum for archaeology to gradually evolve and eventually mature as a scientific discipline. Actually, archaeology is increasingly being empowered to imaginatively predict backwards and develop encouraging multilineal cultural specific theoretical foundations. Herein lies its relevance. Gradually, as multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches are utilised to improve the archaeological data sets ; explicit efforts are increasingly being undertaken to genuinely propound malleable histories with a minimal ‘ assault ‘ on the past reality without perceptible distortions.

Of course the past happenings are grounded in the plurality of non- referential yet judgemental inferences. The natural culmination of tentative understanding about the past as inference or sasvat anumana is acceptable to most archaeologists. Obviously an obsession with rigid or near sighted empiricism, rejecting multivocality, is endlessly inconclusive. It remains an impediment to explicable recognition of intuition as basic and rationality as its derivative. Explanations of the past phenomena only require logical cohesiveness, instead of a preoccupation with hyper rationalism and pseudo – scientific deductivism.

The present book aims to explore the contributions also of the ancestral oriental thought the Indian philosophy , towards teleological disclosures of the past inter relations .This ,however, engenders a brief digression from the conventional correlations to latent causation rooted in perceived intentionality and predominace of will.

On the bare surface, philosophy and archaeology appear to be unfathomably distant regarding their immediate subject matter and treatment of the relevant disciplinary issues . Numerous apprehensions are consequently raised as to the likely beneficial fusion of the two .But , simultaneously in the deeper reality ,a strong thread of indebtedness to philosophising is gradually becoming indispensable as finer epistemological ground are being traversed and examined to satisfactorily explain away the past nuances . This is deemed necessary to arrive at viable understanding of the past.

Archaeology has , of late ,rapidly developed as a mature field of scientific enquiry ,into the processes of the past prom its obscure beginnings as a purely ‘fact-grabbing’ antiquarian discipline. For that matter, India offers unparalleled rich treasure troves, ‘purely’ empirical mass of data ,that is ,varied artefacts of its past . Also, India has a strong reverence for the past fluid traditions and diverse cultures.

This together with the dedication, obviously, provides fertile ground for worthwhile archaeology to flourish. More so, when the innumerable Indian schools of philosophy and epistemology, for example, especially the nyaya system of ancient thought offers requisite backbone for cementing and (re)constructing the glorious edifice of the numerous theoretical aspects of the discipline. Therefore, notwithstanding its seemingly belated birth, archaeology in India, has had recently made significant contributions.