What is this all about?

Sandehakari is a constantly evolving effort. Derived from the Sanskrit roots Sandeha (skepticism) and Kari (doer), the word translates to "skeptic" or "doubter."

While this might seem to carry a negative connotation, skepticism is highly warranted. Why accept things at face value? Filtering information for accuracy before forming an opinion benefits both yourself and others. If you wouldn't buy a used car from an unknown dealer without negotiating, you are already practicing the essence of a Sandehakari.

Opinions are powerful, but there is a profound difference between informed and uninformed ones. Your thoughts shape your opinions, and your opinions carry consequences. The question is whether you want those consequences to affect others, and if so, whether for their benefit or detriment.

This effort is inspired by the timeless South Asian Charvaka (Lokayat) tradition and the Socratic schools of thought. Though separated by time, geography, and civilization, both philosophies emphasized a crucial principle: question everything. This means being skeptical not only of the external information you receive but also of the internal ideas you generate.

Interestingly, this self-reflective skepticism is the foundation of any sound scientific methodology. If your a priori assumption is fallacious, the chances of your a posteriori conclusion being valid are incredibly low. Science is more than just a body of knowledge; it is a universally powerful tool, constrained only by the limitations of the human brain.

The scientific method is applied universally—often unconsciously. It ranges from Kalahari bushmen empirically distinguishing edible berries from poisonous ones, to sophisticated, multibillion-dollar projects like the Large Hadron Collider. While the nuances vary as problems become more complex, foundational reasoning from first principles is always required to test and validate reality.

This is why the independent ideas of Charvaka and Socrates remain timeless. Many wrongly assume that science is a purely Western invention. While Western nations may have been the first to formalize it, science is an inherent human capability, much like emotion or empathy, and it cannot be gatekept. Ultimately, it is a tool capable of constructive or destructive use, yielding intended or unintended consequences.

This is where moral philosophy enters. Human inquisitiveness and scientific ability are inherently blind to their own consequences and must be guided by ethical principles. Here, skepticism and questioning remain essential to shape moral philosophies that drive better outcomes for humanity.

Whether Buddhist or Advaita, Vedic or Jain, Abrahamic or Chinese, Stoic or Taoist, classical or modern, Eastern or Western—Sandehakari highlights that all human philosophies, regardless of their origins or nuances, converge on two vital objectives: understanding concepts and attaining wisdom.

This convergence is exactly what the logo implies: a Charvaka sage facing left (toward the West) and Socrates facing right (toward the East), seeking insight from one another, overlaying an open book that stores knowledge for all humanity.

Substack: https://substack.com/@sandehakari