The Concept of Atman in Eastern and Western Philosophy

In Eastern philosophy, Atman is often understood as the individual soul or self, the innermost essence of a person that remains constant throughout their life and beyond.

The Upanishads, a collection of ancient Sanskrit texts, are considered the primary source for the concept of Atman in Indian philosophy.

The Upanishads teach that Atman, the individual soul, is ultimately identical to Brahman, the universal consciousness or reality.

Plato's philosophy extensively explores the concept of the soul, arguing that it is immortal and distinct from the body.

Plato argued that the soul is an immaterial substance, distinct from the physical body and capable of existing independently.

Aristotle viewed the soul as the form or essence of a living being, providing it with its unique characteristics and functions.

Descartes' famous statement "cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am) emphasizes the centrality of the thinking self or consciousness in his philosophical system.

Descartes argued that the mind and the body are distinct substances, interacting with each other through the pineal gland.

David Hume argued against the idea of the soul as a substance, suggesting that it is a collection of mental states or perceptions.

Anatman, or no-self, is a fundamental concept in Buddhism, emphasizing the absence of a permanent, unchanging self or soul.