[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914) › c6.s2 # The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c6.s2: The Four Branches of Human Science in Hindu Thought The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c6.s2 - **Language:** English ### The Four Branches of Human Science in Hindu Thought ### [c6.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.1) Man as an individual and in relation to Nature, other men, society, economy, law, state etc. was thus the subject matter of a vast literature of \*śāstras\* or \*vidyās\*, each of which specialized itself in one or other of these social fields. To use old Hindu categories, these specialized sociological studies may be classified in the following manner: ### [c6.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.2) 1. Worldly and secular interests of man as an individual and as a member of the society giving rise to certain social \*vidyās\*: ### [c6.s2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.3) 1. \*Kama-śāstra\*,³ dealing with the purely physical and physiological as well as sexological aspects or factors of the human personality. ### [c6.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.4) ³ The words \*Kāmaśāstra\*, \*Dharmaśāstra\*, \*Arthaśastra\* and \*Mokṣaśāstra\* have been used here without reference to the titles of books such as are to be found in Sanskrit literature but simply as philosophical categories. ### [c6.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.5) 2. Comprehensive social, political, economic, religious and ethical aspects or factors of the human personality dealt with in certain groups of \*vidyās\*: ### [c6.s2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.6) (a) \*Dharma-śāstra\*, the discipline which deals with duties and \*mores\*. ### [c6.s2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.7) (b) \*Artha-śāstra\*, the discipline which deals with finance, constitution, civics, army etc. ### [c6.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.8) \*Dharma-śāstra\* is more encyclopaedic and all-embracing than \*Artha-śāstra\* while the latter is more constitutional and economic in its make-up. One can also say within certain limitations that "private law" is in the main the topic of the former whereas the latter deals in the main with the "public law". ### [c6.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.9) II. Other-worldly, non-secular and transcendental interests of man and society,—giving rise to certain metaphysical and ethical \*vidyās\*. The disciplines consecrated to these unmaterial or transcendental aspects and factors of the human personality,—the problems of salvation,—are known as \*Mokṣa-śāstra\*. ### [c6.s2.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.10) \*Nītiśāstra\* is in its scope identical with \*Arthaśāstra\* and as such covers many of the topics dealt with in \*Dharmaśāstra\*. In the milieu of \*Śukranīti\* we have to move about with the categories chiefly of \*Dharma\* and \*Artha\*, i.e. the duties and desirables of man as an individual and in society. ### [c6.s2.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.11) It is clear, therefore, that in every history of Hindu philosophy, rightly investigated, there should be chapters devoted to \*Arthaśāstra\*, \*Nītiśāstra\* or the like. To deal with Hindu philosophical categories without touching upon \*Artha\*, i.e., the conception of property, law, state, citizenship etc. would be as incomplete, partial and therefore misleading as to write on the history of Greek philosophy without touching upon the \*Republic\* of Plato or the \*Politics\* of Aristotle.⁴ ### [c6.s2.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2.12) ⁴ The chapter on "Speculations in the Medical Schools" in S. N. Das Gupta's \*History of Indian Philosophy\* Vol. II, (Cambridge 1932) pp. 272-436 is to be appreciated as being in the right place. A similar chapter on the socio-economic relations, legal ideas and ethico-political interests of man is also a desideratum in a comprehensive treatise dealing with Hindu philosophical systems. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1914.c6.s2) · Pramāṇa