The emergence of cognition from consciousness: A Vedic-Upaniṣadic perspective
International Journal of Applied Research January 1, 2026 Tania Roy
Indian philosophy, particularly the Vedas and Upaniṣads, presents consciousness as a fundamental, non-reducible principle underlying perception and cosmic order, not as an emergent property of neural computation. The Vedic view is cosmological and sacrificial, centered on Ṛta (cosmic order) and the interconnectedness of individual and universe. The Upaniṣads deepen this with Ātman and Brahman as the basis of consciousness. Concepts like chit, prajñā, manas, buddhi, and vijñāna describe cognition as an organized, discriminative process arising from pure consciousness. The research argues this framework anticipates contemporary discussions in cognitive science and philosophy of mind, particularly on self-consciousness, intentionality, and the observer–observed relationship, contradicting purely computational or materialist theories of mind.