Lokāyata

Lokāyata was an ancient Indian philosophical movement that valued direct experience, debate, and skepticism over scriptural authority. It emphasized free inquiry, logical reasoning, and questioning established beliefs to attain knowledge and truth. Think of it as an early form of critical thinking or scientific skepticism—people challenging ideas through reasoned discussion rather than accepting teachings blindly. Lokāyata was influential in promoting intellectual freedom and caused debates with other religious and philosophical schools of the time, encouraging open dialogue and the pursuit of truth based on evidence and reasoning.