The document discusses the Charvaka school of Indian philosophy. It states that Charvaka philosophy is a materialist school that believes only in perception as a valid source of knowledge. It rejects concepts like the soul, God, karma, and liberation. Charvaka's metaphysics focus on matter as the only reality and reject spiritualism in favor of establishing materialism. According to Charvaka ethics, pleasure is the ultimate goal and wealth is only valuable as a means to achieve pleasure.

1. Presented by:
Mohammad Rizwan
21 PYMAA-105
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

2.  Charvaka is that generally stands for “Materialist”.
 Charvaka philosophy is a heterodox school of Indian
philosophy.
 They do not believe in the authority of Vedas.
 Brihaspati is also said to be the founder.
 Charvaka derives its name from its philosophy of Eat, Drink &
Be merry.
 Materialism accepts matter as the ultimate reality.
 Charvaka philosophy focuses mainly on these three issues:-
1. Epistemology
2. Metaphysics
3. Ethics

3.  According to Charvaka, perception or pratyaksha is the only
valid source of knowledge.
 The simple philosophy of the school is, whatever be
perceived, exists. And that which cannot be perceived, does
not exists.
 Perception is possible via Object, Contact and Five Senses
Organs:- gustatory (taste), tactual (touch), olfactory (smell),
visual (sight) and auditory (sound) organ.
 Charvaka is the only school of Indian philosophy which accept
only one Pramana, that is pratyaksha (perception).

4.  According to Charvaka, matter is the only reality because it
can be perceived by us. So, the World according to them is
made up of four elements- Air (Vayu), Fire (Agni), Water (Ap),
Earth (Prithvi).
 Charvaka rejects the concept of conscious soul, according to
them the soul is nothing but the living body which has the
quality of consciousness. The concept is known as “chaitanya
visishta deha eva atma”.
 The metaphysical concepts such as concept of Liberation,
God, Heaven-hell, Immorality of Soul, Karma, etc. are all
rejected by them because Charvaka believe that the soul is
nothing but apart from body.

5.  Charvaka theory is also known as a hedonistic theory.
 According to Charvaka, out of the four purushartas or the
goal of human life, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Only two are accepted they are: Artha or wealth, kama or
pleasure.
 Only Kama or sensual pleasure is regarded as the end and
Artha or wealth is regarded as the means to realize that end.
 Charvaka regards sensual pleasure as the summum bonum.
 On the other hand, Dharma and Moksha are totally rejected.
 Religion is the means of livelihood of the priests.

6.  Charvaka’s philosophy refutes spiritualism and
establishes its materialism to give its metaphysical
theories.
 The main reason of the denial of this metaphysical
issue is that ‘perception’ is the only source of valid
knowledge.
 They do not believe in causality and universality.
 They believe in Naturalism.
 They regard that mind and consciousness are the
product of matter.