Bhartṛhari on Linguistic Universals and the Problem of Regress

Abstract This article explores the philosophical and linguistic inquiries of Bhartṛhari, a renowned grammarian and philosopher who lived between 460 and 510 CE. Focusing on his seminal work, the Vākyapadīya , the article examines Bhartṛhari’s investigation into the problem of universals. It begins by providing an overview of the debates surrounding universals in both Euro-American and Indian philosophies. The article then delves into Bhartṛhari’s unique distinction between linguistic and ontic universals, analyzing his arguments and discussing how his concepts address a common criticism faced by universal realists—the alleged vicious regress of universals.