Shyam Ranganathan

Shyam Ranganathan is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at York University, affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. His research focuses on Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Language, and Asian Philosophy—particularly Indian moral philosophy and philosophies of meditation. He critiques colonial epistemology and advocates for decolonial methodologies in philosophical research.

Education: PhD in Philosophy (York University), MA in South Asian Studies and Philosophy (University of Toronto), and BA in Philosophy (University of Guelph).

Research emphasizes connections between thought models and social/political phenomena like colonialism and nationalism. Key themes include the role of translation in preserving non-Western philosophies and the moral frameworks in Yoga and Vedanta traditions. His work challenges Western-centric assumptions in philosophy of language and ethics.

Publications span monographs, edited volumes, and translations of ancient texts, including the Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Indian Ethics. Articles explore topics like Patañjali’s Yoga, Vedānta moral theories, and critiques of linguistic imperialism in Indology.

Professional contributions include founding the York Philosophy Diversity Committee and the Diversify our Syllabi Series. He also leads Yoga Philosophy, a free public education initiative, and serves as a DE&I consultant for organizations addressing historical injustices.