The Ethical Self as Dialogue: Reconsidering Freedom in Indian Philosophy Through Daya Krishna

Abstract

Freedom in Indian philosophy has long been viewed as the ultimate realization of self-awareness and liberation from ignorance. Daya Krishna offers a transformative interpretation of this concept by bringing freedom into the realm of human experience, dialogue, and moral reflection. For him, freedom does not lie in escaping worldly conditions but in understanding and engaging with them consciously. It emerges through awareness, ethical deliberation, and meaningful participation in life. His philosophy replaces metaphysical abstraction with reflective dialogue that connects the self, others, and tradition. The ethical self, therefore, is not static but continually shaped through conversation and moral inquiry. By uniting the classical Indian pursuit of moksha with modern notions of autonomy and responsibility, Daya Krishna presents freedom as a dynamic process of self-realization grounded in reason and ethical creativity. This vision broadens the scope of Indian philosophy by emphasising consciousness, intersubjectivity, and cultural renewal as essential to moral life.