Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies (print)The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies is an ongoing project to assemble and summarize information on the various systems (darśana) of Indian philosophy. Initiated forty years ago, the entire series is planned to consist of some 28 volumes: 26 dealing with particular philosophical systems, an introductory Bibliography, and a concluding Glossary/Index. Karl H. Potter is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Washington.
Each volume in the series contains an Introduction by its Editor(s), followed by summaries of all the philosophical texts of the system known to exist in Western language translation, or extant only in editions, or in a few cases available only in manuscript. These summaries are arranged in the chronological order in which the texts appear to have been written, and provide a guide to the literature together with a flowing account of the development of thought through the history of the system being covered. The summaries are solicited from specialists in the field from throughout the world who have an intimate knowledge of the texts being summarized.
For purposes of control, "Indian philosophical works" as understood for the project is confined to treatises which are (1) of philosophical interest throughout; (2) theoretical rather than purely practical in their intended function, and (3) polemical or at least expository in a context where defense of one view among alternatives is appropriate.