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Which three concepts are central to most systems of Indian philosophy?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Seventeenth-century illustration from the Mahabharata showing Krishna, with blue skin, driving a white horse-drawn chariot as Arjuna sits behind him holding a bow.
Indian philosophy In the Bhagavad Gita Arjuna and the Hindu deity Krishna, who also serves as Arjuna's charioteer (as depicted in this 17th-century illustration), engaging in a philosophical dialogue.

In Indian philosophy, three concepts form the cornerstone of thought across most systems: the self or soul (atman), works (karma), and liberation (moksha).1

  • Atman: This concept refers to the innermost self or eternal core of a person. While different schools may interpret its nature or existence differently, it is a central subject of inquiry regarding the nature of being.21
  • Karma: Signifying the moral efficacy of human actions, this concept describes how an individual's deeds influence their future, including the cycle of rebirth.314
  • Moksha: This represents the highest ideal and the ultimate goal of liberation from the cycle of birth and death, known as samsara.531

With the exception of the Charvaka school, most Indian philosophical systems engage with these three concepts and their interrelations, even if they do not accept their objective validity in precisely the same manner.1