Write a short note on Elucidate the views of Carvaka on the concept of self.

The Carvaka school, also known as Lokayata or materialism, emerged as a dissenting voice in ancient Indian philosophy, challenging orthodox views prevalent during its time. The Carvaka perspective on the concept of self is characterized by a materialistic and atheistic stance.

Carvaka philosophers rejected the idea of an eternal soul (atman), a central tenet in many Indian philosophical traditions. According to them, consciousness and self were intricately tied to the physical body and mind. The self, in Carvaka philosophy, was considered a transient entity arising from the combination of material elements.

Unlike the spiritual and metaphysical perspectives of other schools, Carvaka asserted a thoroughgoing empiricism. They contended that sensory perception was the only reliable source of knowledge and dismissed scriptural authority, ritualistic practices, and metaphysical speculations as unwarranted. In this empirical framework, the self was perceived as a product of sensory experiences, cognition, and the material composition of the body.

The Carvaka rejection of an eternal soul had profound implications for their stance on life after death. Unlike the belief in reincarnation prevalent in many Indian traditions, Carvaka philosophers asserted that consciousness ceased to exist after death. Their worldview prioritized the observable, tangible aspects of life and dismissed speculative notions about an enduring self or metaphysical realms.

In essence, the Carvaka conception of the self aligns with a radical materialism, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of consciousness and rejecting the transcendent and spiritual dimensions proposed by other philosophical schools. While the Carvaka school is not as prominent in contemporary philosophical discourse, its materialistic outlook on the self remains a notable and intriguing aspect of the diverse tapestry of ancient Indian philosophy.