Theories of Sentential Meaning

A Critical Study of the Abhihitanvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda theories in

Bhaṭṭa and Prabhākara Schools of Mīmāṃsā Philosophy
 Guide

Prof C. D. Sebastian
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
IIT Bombay
 Research Area
 Philosophy of Language
 Indian Philosophy
 Systems of Indian Philosophy
 Mīmāṃsā
 Theories of Sentence Meaning
 Research Problem

A Critical Study of the Abhihitanvayavāda and

Anvitābhidhānavāda theories in Bhaṭṭa and
Prabhākara Schools of Mīmāṃsā Philosophy
 Thesis Statement

Do sentences convey meaning as a whole or do words

independently convey meanings? The study of the theories of
Abhihitanvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda shed light on these
questions and critically evaluate the positions of the Mimamsakas,
comprehending the debate between the schools, exposing its
problems and proposing alternatives. Thus, study of these Theories
of Sentential Meaning enlighten the understanding of our very
Existence.
 Review of Literature
 Sutras of Jaimini and Slokavartika and
Tantravartika: Primary Commentaries (Sanskrit
and English Sub-Commentaries)
 Works of Ganganath Jha on Purva Mīmāṃsā
Philosophy (Both Schools)
 Articles concerning Indian Philosophy of
Language: Renowned Authors
 Basic Books of Indian Philosophy
 Research Methods

 Descriptive
 Comparative Study to understand the Debate
 Critical Analysis
 Significance
 Language is the mirror of the mind Noam Chomsky.
 Limits of my language are the limits of my world.
 India’s ancient contributions to the wealth of
knowledge, as ancient as or even older than that of the
Greek philosophers.
 Learn the ways of Traditional Interpretations especially
from the Mimamsakas perspectives.
 Understand the Debate, Critical Analyse it, Study the
problems associated with it and see some
contemporary significance thus prove the Thesis.
 Help us to deal with our life and be lost in the Eternal
Word.
 Scope and Limitation
 Specific: A Critical Study of the Abhihitanvayavāda and
Anvitābhidhānavāda theories in Bhaṭṭa and Prabhākara
Schools of Mīmāṃsā Philosophy
 Not much of Background or overview of Mīmāṃsā
Philosophy will be provided
 Consultation of Original sources will be restricted to
Quotations: Dissertation in Philosophy and not a Linguistic
perspective or analysis
 Glossary of Indian terms – Monier Williams reference point
 Bibliography
 Primary Sources
 Jaiminis Mimamasa Sutras
 Commentaries of Bhatta and Prabhakara
 Ganganath Jha on Purva Mimamsa Philosophy
 Secondary Sources
 Gaurinath Shastri
 Kunjunni Raja
 K T Pandurangi
 Elisa Freschi
 Basic books on Indian Philosophy
 Sinha, Dasgupta, Chattergee and Datta, Hirianna, Sharma
and Radhakrishnan
 Outline (Chapterization)
1. Historical Developments in Indian Philosophy of
Language and Mimamsa’s Contribution to it
2. The Problem of Meaning – What does it Express –
How do we go about understanding Meaning –
Primary and Secondary Meanings – Setting the
Ground for the Debate
3. Abhihitanvayavāda and Anvitābhidhānavāda
theories in Bhaṭṭa and Prabhākara Schools of
Mīmāṃsā Philosophy
4. Critical Study and Analysis: Issues, Problems,
Alternatives
Glossary of Indian Terms