Carvaka philosophers argued that perception is the only reliable source of knowledge and that all other sources, such as inference and testimony, are unreliable.

Carvaka philosophy differs from other Indian philosophical schools in its rejection of the concept of reincarnation, its emphasis on the importance of material well-being, and its denial of the existence of a supreme being.

Bertrand Russell, J.L. Mackie, and Daniel Dennett are all contemporary philosophers who have been influenced by Carvaka philosophy. Russell was a British philosopher who argued that the world is composed of matter and that there is no such thing as a soul. Mackie was an Australian philosopher who argued that there is no objective morality. Dennett is an American philosopher who has argued that consciousness is a product of the brain and that there is no such thing as a non-physical mind.

Carvaka philosophy has influenced contemporary thought in a number of ways. It has led to a decline in religious belief, contributed to the development of materialism, and helped to shape the scientific worldview.

Carvaka philosophy has been criticized for being too simplistic, nihilistic, and incompatible with science. Critics argue that Carvaka philosophers' rejection of all sources of knowledge other than perception leads to a simplistic and superficial understanding of the world. They also argue that Carvaka philosophy's denial of the existence of a soul and an afterlife is nihilistic and that its rejection of the concept of reincarnation is incompatible with science.