Vaisheshika

[ vahy-she-shee-kuh, vahy-shey-shi-kuh ]

noun

, Indian Philosophy.

1. a school of thought asserting the existence of a universe formed by a god out of atoms of earth, air, fire, and water, as well as out of space, time, ether, mind, and soul, all conceived as substances coexisting eternally with the god.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Vaisheshika¹

< Sanskrit vaiśeṣika, derivative of viśesa difference, particular property

Example Sentences

Both the Nyaya and Vaisheshika schools of Hindu philosophy had a great deal of reverence for inference and a proto-scientific method.

From Forbes

In this respect, Patanjali differs from Kapila, and inclines rather toward agreement with Kanada, of the first mentioned school of the Vaisheshika system.

From Project Gutenberg

This teaching opposes the Atomic Theory of the Vaisheshika system, and holds that the atoms are not indestructible nor eternal, but may be resolved back into a primal substance called Prakriti.

From Project Gutenberg

We will first consider the philosophy of Kanada, generally known as the Vaisheshika Teaching, which inclines toward an Atomic Theory, akin to that formulated by the old Greek philosopher Democritus.

From Project Gutenberg

That positivism expounded by Lewis, that makes each particular hair on the heads of Oxford theologians stand on end, is ridiculous child's play compared with the atomistic school of Vaisheshika, with its world divided, like a chessboard, into six categories of everlasting atoms, nine substances, twenty-four qualities, and five motions.

From Project Gutenberg