@Daniel Isaac The Charvaka philosophy originated in India about 2,600 years ago. It promotes a materialistic, scientific, empirical, and atheistic world view, the Charvaka philosophy even predates Jainism and Buddhism. The Charvaka philosophy is unique, it developed as its own philosophy (independent of Hindu scriptures, or ideas of Hinduism in general), the ideas in the Charvaka philosophy were its own. It harshly criticizes the Vedas (Hindu scriptures), the Brahmins (priests), denied the existence of god (or gods), promotes a type of early scientific inquiry, and even mocks the Vedas and Brahmins. The Charvaka philosophy was a major enemy of Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. It ruthlessly refuted Buddhist ideas, and it gave the same treatment to Jainist and Hindu ideas. The Brhaspati Sutra is the foundational text of the Charvaka philosophy, unfortunately, it has been lost. Ajita Kesakambali was one of the main proponents of Charvaka philosophy, his text still survives. Interestingly enough, it’s rhetoric (Charvaka) is quite similar to how Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens speak about religion or the god concept, which is to say, not tolerant to primitive ideas at all. To put it simply: the Charvaka philosophy is possibly the earliest documentation of atheism, it was atheistic and even anti-theistic in its ideas.
Leaving aside that he couldn't literally have been the first, I don't think it's strange in context. Back then a lot of people who had access to philosophical and scientific works also had some sort of theological background. What's more unusual is that he was a *village* priest, the sort of person who wasn't expected to be widely read.
@@noname-by3qz No, "The Age of Voltaire" was one of the volumes in Will Durant's Story of Civilization series. Durant discusses Meslier a bit in that volume. Meslier's book is often referred to in English as his "Testament." It was translated back in 2008 or so by Michael Shreve.
Light-years ahead of his time!
Being a pastor who has deconstructed, I'd love to hear how he remained a priest while holding these thoughts.
I scored a copy of the English full translation used. It's great. If you can catch one cheap, grab it.
The first profound Atheist was a priest !! How strange is reality !!
@Daniel Isaac
The Charvaka philosophy originated in India about 2,600 years ago. It promotes a materialistic, scientific, empirical, and atheistic world view, the Charvaka philosophy even predates Jainism and Buddhism. The Charvaka philosophy is unique, it developed as its own philosophy (independent of Hindu scriptures, or ideas of Hinduism in general), the ideas in the Charvaka philosophy were its own. It harshly criticizes the Vedas (Hindu scriptures), the Brahmins (priests), denied the existence of god (or gods), promotes a type of early scientific inquiry, and even mocks the Vedas and Brahmins. The Charvaka philosophy was a major enemy of Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. It ruthlessly refuted Buddhist ideas, and it gave the same treatment to Jainist and Hindu ideas. The Brhaspati Sutra is the foundational text of the Charvaka philosophy, unfortunately, it has been lost. Ajita Kesakambali was one of the main proponents of Charvaka philosophy, his text still survives. Interestingly enough, it’s rhetoric (Charvaka) is quite similar to how Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens speak about religion or the god concept, which is to say, not tolerant to primitive ideas at all. To put it simply: the Charvaka philosophy is possibly the earliest documentation of atheism, it was atheistic and even anti-theistic in its ideas.
Leaving aside that he couldn't literally have been the first, I don't think it's strange in context. Back then a lot of people who had access to philosophical and scientific works also had some sort of theological background. What's more unusual is that he was a *village* priest, the sort of person who wasn't expected to be widely read.
Not the first by far.
De loin vraiment pas le premier.
Personnage très intéressant.
@methodicalintellect8472
Very interesting but I'm confused because Buddhists don't talk about god.
Who said he was the first? Definitely not!
Thanks for this!
One WISE man.
I can't imagine a more well written thesis!😅
Excellent writer
Which volume is he reading from?
Vol 9: The Age of Voltaire (p611 start)
thank you!
@@DavidErdody
That's Meslier's book?
@@noname-by3qz No, "The Age of Voltaire" was one of the volumes in Will Durant's Story of Civilization series. Durant discusses Meslier a bit in that volume. Meslier's book is often referred to in English as his "Testament." It was translated back in 2008 or so by Michael Shreve.
no freedom is possible without property.