Buddhist Logic and Epistemology: Studies in the Buddhist Analysis of Inference and Language

by Bimal K. Matilal (Editor), Robert D. Evans (Editor)

Overview

For the first time in recent history, seventeen scholars from allover the world (India, Japan, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States) collaborated here to produce a volume containing an in-depth study of Buddhist log­ ical theory in the background of Buddhist epistemology. The Tibetan tradition identifies this important chapter in the history of Buddhist philosophy as the prama~a school. It owes its origin to the writings of the great Buddhist master, Dih­ naga (circa A. D. 480-540), whose influence was to spread far beyond India, as well as to his celebrated interpreter of sev­ enth century A. D. , Dharmakirti, whose texts presented the standard version of the school for the later Buddhist and non­ Buddhist authors for a long time. The history of Buddhist and Indian logical and epistemo­ logical theories constitutes an interesting study not only for the Buddhist scholars but also for philosophers as well as historians of philosophy in general. Each author of this anthology combines historical and philological scholarship with philosophical acumen and linguistic insight. Each of them uses original textual (Tibetan or Sanskirt) material to resolve logical issues and philosophical questions. Attention has been focused upon two crucial philosophical concepts: trairupya (the "triple" character of evidence) and apoha (meaning as "exclusion"). Broadly the issues are concerned with the problems of inductive logic and the problem of mean­ ing and universals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789401085632
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	08/22/2012
Series:	Studies of Classical India , #7
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1986
Pages:	305
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

Buddhist Logic and Epistemology.- An Interpretation of Anyapoha in Dignāga’s General Theory of Inference.- Three Systems of Buddhist Logic.- Dharmakarti and His Theory of Inference.- Some Thoughts on Antarvyapti, Bahirvyapti, and Trairapya.- Dianaga and Post-Russell Logic.- Metalogical Remarks on the Procrustean Translation of the Buddhist Pararthanumana into the Anglo-European Predicate Calculus.- Dharmakarti’S Definition of “Points of Defeat” (Nigrahasthana).- Apoha and Aimaapavakaa.- Jflanar Imitra on Apoha.- Apoha Theory and Pre-Dianaga Views on Sentence-meaning.- Was Aantarakaita a “Positivist”?.- Identity and Referential Opacity in Tibetan Buddhist Apoha Theory.- Does the Madhyamika Have a Thesis and Philosophical Position?.- Bhavya’s Critique of Yogacara in the Madhyamakaratnapradapa, Chapter IV.- The Concept of Reason in Jnanagarbhaa’s Světantrika Madhyamaka.- Ratnakarti on Apoha.