Question
Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists? Give reasons for your answer.
Solution
There were certain distinction when it came to ideas of upanishadic thinkers form those of the fatalists and the materialists. There difference lies not in the question but rather in the solutions. Because the questions are same, meaning of life, death, rebirth etc.
However the interesting aspect is the answers, upanishadic thinkers believed in life after death, and the theory of karma but they also believed that karma could be rid or gained. Now when we look at the Fatalist thinkers from the Ajivikas we find that their believes are very different, they believed that everything is predetermined and it is foolish to try to get rid of karma or gaining karma.
On the other hand Lokayatas had very distinct answers to the above questions, they are known as materialist as they believed that human were made of four elements and when they die these elements goes back to where it came from. Thus they believed that there is no world as next believed by other schools.
However the interesting aspect is the answers, upanishadic thinkers believed in life after death, and the theory of karma but they also believed that karma could be rid or gained. Now when we look at the Fatalist thinkers from the Ajivikas we find that their believes are very different, they believed that everything is predetermined and it is foolish to try to get rid of karma or gaining karma.
On the other hand Lokayatas had very distinct answers to the above questions, they are known as materialist as they believed that human were made of four elements and when they die these elements goes back to where it came from. Thus they believed that there is no world as next believed by other schools.
