Sri Aurobindo and Krishnachandra Bhattacharyya: Relation between Science and Spiritualism

Abstract

This chapter discusses the relation between science (matter) and metaphysics or philosophy (spirit), particularly modern science and the metaphysical aspect of contemporary Indian philosophy. It also focuses on Sri Aurobindo who argued for the synthesis between matter and spirit or science and spiritualism. It then describes Sri Aurobindo's views on the relation between science and spiritualism or matter and spirit. In addition, it explains Krishnachandra Bhattacharyya's approach where science ‘denies’ philosophy. To conclude, there are two contrasting perspectives on the relation between matter and mind in contemporary Indian philosophy and this has eluded the attention of the scholars till now, which is attributed to the non-availability of the philosophy of difference in current times. Here, it is shown that the difference that is referred to is not the difference that postmodernists are highlighting.