Dr. Radhakrishnan on the Philosophy of the Upanisads

Summary

This article examines Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s interpretation of the Upanisads and his exposition of their philosophical significance. The Upanisads, regarded as the culmination of Vedic thought, present complex metaphysical ideas about the nature of reality, the self and liberation. Radhakrishnan approaches these texts both as a scholar versed in Sanskrit and as a philosopher seeking to make their insights accessible. The author outlines Radhakrishnan’s understanding of the central Upanisadic doctrine that Brahman, the absolute reality, and Ātman, the inner self, are identical. He explains how Radhakrishnan interprets passages like ‘tat tvam asi’ and ‘aham brahmāsmi’ to argue that self‑knowledge is the key to liberation. The article discusses his emphasis on the experiential aspect of this knowledge: the Upanisads are not speculative metaphysics but records of direct spiritual realisation. Radhakrishnan contrasts this perspective with Western interpretations that see the Upanisads as mystical poetry lacking philosophical rigour. The paper also addresses Radhakrishnan’s treatment of cosmology and ethics in the Upanisads. He notes that the creation myths are symbolic explanations of the manifestation of Brahman in the universe and that they avoid the pitfalls of both strict monism and naive theism. In ethics, the Upanisads advocate self‑control, compassion and a life of inwardness; Radhakrishnan interprets these as forms of self‑discipline leading to freedom from egoism. The author highlights Radhakrishnan’s argument that the Upanisadic vision supports a pluralistic yet spiritually unified worldview, allowing for multiple paths (jñāna, bhakti, karma) toward the same truth. Throughout the article, attention is given to Radhakrishnan’s ability to draw parallels between Upanisadic ideas and modern philosophical debates about consciousness and reality. He engages with contemporary science and Western philosophy to show that the insights of the ancient sages remain relevant. The article concludes that Radhakrishnan’s exposition presents the Upanisads as a universal philosophy of spiritual freedom and ethical responsibility.