With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school : 1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul. 2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B) 2 only

Let's break down why:

Statement 1: Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul. This is incorrect. Sankhya does accept the theory of rebirth (punarjanma) and transmigration of the soul (atman). However, it's crucial to understand Sankhya's unique perspective. Sankhya doesn't posit a permanent, unchanging 'soul' (Atman) like Advaita Vedanta. Instead, it proposes 'Purusha' – a pure consciousness that is distinct from 'Prakriti' (matter/nature). The suffering and cycle of rebirth are due to the Purusha identifying with Prakriti. The 'soul' in Sankhya is essentially this Purusha experiencing the consequences of its association with Prakriti. Statement 2: Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent. This is correct. Sankhya believes liberation (Kaivalya) is achieved through discriminative knowledge (Viveka-khyati) – the realization of the fundamental difference between Purusha and Prakriti. This is a purely internal process; no external god or agent is required to grant liberation. Once Purusha realizes its distinctness from Prakriti, it is freed from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.