A fall 2026 course with Seth Tichenor · Part I
The Arc of Indian Philosophy
The Origins of Classical Indian Philosophy
From the hymns of the Vedas to the dissenting voices of the Cārvāka and the Jains: eleven sessions unpacking how one of the world's great philosophical traditions took shape, and what makes its ideas distinct.
- When
- Wed 10am–12pm or Sat 2–4pm
Same class, your choice - Where
- The Catalyst
264 W. Marine Drive, Astoria - Runs
- September 30 – December 19
11 sessions - Cost
- Free
No registration needed
Is this for you?
If you're curious, you're qualified.
No background needed
You don't need Sanskrit, prior philosophy or religious study. This class is for you if you've wondered what "karma" or "yoga" meant before workout culture took over.
Drop in any week
Come to one or all eleven. Grab a seat on Wednesday or Saturday. Joining partway through is completely ok.
Ideas on their own terms
The heart of the class is unpacking Indian ideas themselves. Along the way, Seth draws out how they differ from other ways of approaching the similar ideas.
Your guide
Seth Tichenor
Philosofarian's co-founder and Preceptor, Seth brings a background in South Asian and comparative philosophy and nearly three decades of teaching.
The sessions
Eleven sessions, five movements
The course follows Indian thought from its oldest scriptures, through the schools that accepted the authority of the Vedas (āstika), to those that rejected it (nāstika).
Foundations
What Indian philosophy set out to do, and the ancient hymns where it begins.
1. Sept 30 & Oct 3
Introduction
The aims, methods and presuppositions of classical Indian thought.
2. Oct 7 & 10
The Vedas
The structure, context and settings of the Vedas.
The Upaniṣads
The turn inward: the self, ultimate reality, and the texts that shaped everything after.
3. Oct 14 & 17
The Early Upaniṣads
The Principal Upaniṣads: the early Upaniṣads and their origins.
4. Oct 21 & 24
The Later Upaniṣads
The later Upaniṣads and their legacy.
The Orthodox Schools
Āstika
The schools that accepted the Vedas' authority and built rigorous systems on them.
5. Oct 28
Wednesday onlyBādarāyaṇa & the Brahma Sūtras
The first commentary on the Vedas. No Saturday class this week (Halloween).
6. Nov 4 & 7
Vedānta & Mīmāṃsā
The early study, commentary and elaboration of the Vedas and the Upaniṣads.
7. Nov 11 & 14
Sāṃkhya & Yoga
The evolution of matter and spirit, and its salvific application.
8. Nov 18 & 21
Nyāya & Vaiśeṣika
The science of logic, atoms and nature.
Thanksgiving break: no classes November 25 & 28
Synthesis
One beloved text weaves duty, devotion and the sacred together.
9. Dec 2 & 5
The Bhagavad Gītā
A classical synthesis of duty and the sacred.
The Dissenters
Nāstika
Schools that rejected the Vedas' authority and went their own radical ways.
10. Dec 9 & 12
Cārvāka
Hedonism, materialism and delighted enlightenment without delusion.
11. Dec 16 & 19
Jainism
The principles of non-violence and spiritual pluralism.
Schedule
Wednesday or Saturday: same class, your choice
Saturday repeats Wednesday's session, so come to whichever fits your week and switch whenever you like.
Wednesdays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Saturdays
2:00pm – 4:00pm · repeat session
Plan your visit
It's free. Just walk in.
Class meets at The Catalyst, Philosofarian's home in downtown Astoria. Come a few minutes early to settle in and find a seat.
- Address
- The Catalyst
264 W. Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon - Cost
- Free. No registration.
- Parking
- Street parking nearby
- Bring
- Curiosity. A notebook if you like.
A few words you'll hear
Don't worry about the Sanskrit
You'll pick these up as you go. A quick tip: ṣ and ś both sound like “sh,” c sounds like “ch,” and a line over a vowel (ā, ī, ū) just makes it long.
Veda
VAY-duh
“Knowledge”; India's oldest sacred texts.
Upaniṣad
oo-PUN-ih-shud
Philosophical texts that close the Vedas.
Brahman
BRUH-mun
Ultimate reality.
Ātman
AHT-mun
The self.
Dharma
DHUR-muh
Duty, order, the right way.
Mokṣa
MOHK-shuh
Liberation.
Sūtra
SOO-truh
A compact aphorism; a “thread” of teaching.
Āstika
AHS-tih-kuh
Orthodox; accepts the Vedas' authority.
Nāstika
NAHS-tih-kuh
Heterodox; does not accept the Vedas' authority.
Ahiṃsā
uh-HIM-sah
Non-violence.
Vaiśeṣika
vy-SHAY-shih-kuh
The school of atoms and categories.
Cārvāka
CHAR-vah-kuh
India's materialist school.
Questions
Good to know
The course already started. Can I still come?
Yes. Each session stands on its own, so you can join any week without catching up.
Do I need to register or pay?
No. The class is free. Just show up Wednesday morning or Saturday afternoon.
Is there any reading?
None required. If you'd like to go deeper, Seth is happy to suggest optional readings. Just ask.
Is this a religious class?
No. We study these traditions as philosophy: ideas to understand, discuss and question. People of every belief, or none, are welcome.
What comes after December?
Part II picks up the arc in January.
What if I can only make one day?
That's why there are two. Saturday repeats Wednesday, so pick whichever suits your week.
Talk. Think. Belong.
The arc continues in Part II, starting in January.
Questions? gadriela@gmail.com