Abstract

Jeffery D. Long’s book provides an in-depth introduction to Indian philosophy, encompassing Hindu, Jain and Buddhist schools of thought. Long discusses the evolution of Indian thought from the Vedas to the modern era, demonstrating how these diverse traditions offer profound insights into fundamental questions about life, reality and knowledge. The book is designed to help readers understand the various philosophical traditions in India and their impact on global culture. Long identifies a gap in the global understanding of Indian philosophy, often perceived merely as a collection of spiritual teachings separate from rationality and logic. Therefore, the main objective of this book is to correct this misconception by showing that Indian philosophy, while often spiritually oriented, also has a strong foundation in logic and rationality, forming philosophical systems that have persisted for thousands of years.