Roy Perrett's An Introduction to Indian Philosophy is a new addition to an already substantial number of introductory books on Indian philosophy, some of which have done an excellent job. The expectation then is that Perrett should give us something new. He distinguishes his book from others by claiming that “unlike some introductions to Indian philosophy, sustained attention is paid here to various of the technical details of the Indian debates” (p. 2). Since other introductory books have also taken this approach, one would further hope that he engages with the material in new and interesting ways.
Perrett begins by laying out the basic methodology and scope of his book and, in doing so, answers the unfortunate but obligatory question as to whether there is philosophy in India. This question has already been the subject of much discussion, and Perrett deals with it quickly. He rejects the secularity, historicist, and...
