Is There 'Self' Identity in Sãmkhya and Śankara?

While underdeveloped as an academic field, Indian philosophical language has permeated Western imagination. However as concepts such as yoga, karma, or reincarnation enter Western discourse, they tend to be appropriated in a manner that bolsters pre-determined notions of selfhood rather than representing anything "Indian". Thus, these discourses often reveal more about Western ways of thinking. This paper analyzes the concept of 'self as developed within early Sanskrit texts, including the Sāmkhyakārika and the writings of Vedāntin thinker Śankara, to argue that Western notions of selfhood present an entirely inadequate frame through which to interpret "Indian" self-identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]