Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, May 12: Prof Alex Watson, a D Phil. from Harvard University and presently a Professor of Indian Philosophy at Ashoka University India, concluded a lecture series at the Department of Philosophy & Culture, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.
Prof Watson spoke on ‘Contrasting Nyaya-Vaisesika and Buddhist explanations of attention’, in which he analyzed whether there is necessary role of mind in attention, or attention can be explained without imagining mind as arbitrator. This question has been long debated in history of Indian philosophy, particularly between Nyaya and Buddhist traditions, if awareness and attention can be explained through the momentary flow of conscious episodes.
Prof Watson specializes in Indian Philosophy, Kashmir Shaivism, Nyaya Philosophy and is an outright scholar of Sanskrit. Prior to that he had spoken on the topic ‘Can Jayanta Bhatta respond effectively to the charge that the inference of God’s existence is un-established and inconclusive’, in which he had analyzed specific arguments given by Nyaya tradition to prove the existence of God.
He also interacted with Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, Prof Sanjeev Jain about the best and innovative practices in academic institutions and thoroughly appreciated the academic freedom that faculty of SMVDU are provided. Prof Watson also interacted with Dr Vandana Sharma, Dean Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Dr V K Tripathi Head Dept. of Philosophy and Culture, Dr Anil K. Tewari and others.
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