A Note on the Nomenclature for Materialists in Ancient India
Summary
“A Note on the Nomenclature for Materialists in Ancient India” examines the labels used for proponents of materialist philosophies such as the Cārvāka (Lokāyata) school. Materialism in India emphasised direct perception and empiricism, rejected ritualism and saw no need for belief in deities. The article surveys literary sources—from the Vedas and epic literature to Jain and Buddhist texts—and notes that materialists were called nāstika (“non-believers”), lokāyatika (“worldly-wise”) and bhūtavādins (“those who talk of the elements”). The author discusses the etymology of these terms and explains that later writers, including Vedāntins and Nyāya philosophers, caricatured materialists as hedonists. He notes that the earliest references to Br̥haspati, the putative founder of the school, portray him as a sage who taught scepticism. Over time, Carvaka doctrine was categorised as one of the heterodox nāstika schools alongside Jainism and Buddhism. The paper concludes that the variety of names applied to Indian materialists reflects not only linguistic diversity but also the polemical agendas of those who wrote about them.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
By tracing the range of terms used for materialist thinkers, the article shows how ancient Indian scholars both recognised a distinct philosophical tradition and sought to marginalise it through disparaging labels. Understanding these names clarifies the historical perception of the Cārvāka school.