A systematic and clear presentation of the philosophy of critical realism as expounded by dignaga and his school. If you, like me, are prone to answer dignaga and to add that dignaga as shown by hattori was inspired by bhart. Dignaga developed the apoha exclusion semantic theory out of reflections on the role of observed. This is a book about the apoha theory of buddhist nominalism the apoha theory is first and foremost an approach to the problem of universalsthe problem of. This is a landmark work in apoha theory and indian epistemology and logic. That problem is one of explaining how it is possible, when we see a pot, to think of it as a pot and call it by the name pot, a name that applies to many other particular pots. Scholars from different parts of the world combine historical and. The buddhist maintains that words have no reference to reality in any sense. The apoha theory is first and foremost an approach to the problem of universals. The problem is one of explaining how it is possible, when we see a pot, to think of it as a pot and call it by the name pot, a name that applies to many other particular pots. Buy apoha buddhism nominalism and human cognition book online at best prices in india on.
While dharmakirti is widely recognized for his crucial innovations in indian logic and semantic theory, his notoriously difficult thought nonetheless remains poorly understood. Im not an expert and there are not a lot of explanations out there. While dharmakirti is widely recognized for his crucial innovations in indian logic and semantic theory, his notoriously difficult thought. The manifold philosophical problems arising from this seemingly selfcontradictory position, and the buddhists ingenious solution to it, exercised most schools of indian thought for more than seven centuries and caused the buddhists to continuously refine their theory. The buddhist apoha theory tries to resolve this dilemma, first, by rejecting properties such as potness and, then, by. Faculty books department of philosophy the university. The buddhist apoha theory tries to resolve this dilemma, first, by rejecting properties such as. Buddhist epistemology download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Matilal interpreted the theory in this fashion see matilal 1971, 41, as did hans herzberger. Key to dharmakirtis system is the theory of apoha, exclusion. He was also one of the primary theorists of buddhist atomism. This is a book about the apoha theory of buddhist nominalism the apoha theory is first and foremost an approach to the problem of universalsthe problem of the one over many. This volume contains scholarly essays, presented at a seminar, that make an in depth study of buddhist logical theory in the background of buddhist epistemology. The apoha theory is a part of buddhist epistemology also known as the theory of exclusion and used to explain perception or pramana.
When we understand that something is a pot, is it because of one property that all pots share. The book bases its investigation of the apoha theory on the succinct and. Therefore it need a free signup process to obtain the book. The buddhists do not admit any universal in their metaphysical framework. Ratnakirti on apoha is a book on the buddhist theory of meaning or semantics. Some deal with the buddhist theory of language called apoha in comparison with the views of nagarjuna, bhartrhari and others, while others are devoted to the ontological questions, such as. Apoha theory, one of the leastinvestigated subjects of buddhist logic. And topdown is also how the exclusion theory apohavada is presented in the works of nonbuddhist opponents of dignaga, as well as in modern works treating of the subject.
The buddhist apoha theory tries to resolve this dilemma, first, by rejecting properties such as potness and, then, by this seems unlikely, but without this common essence, it is difficult to see how we could teach someone to use the word pot or to see something as a pot. Apoha or exclusions typically involves a double negation. This book upholds the latest position of the buddhists regarding the notion of apoha. The book is valuable in the picture it gives of the state of buddhist canonical debate in the eleventh century.
Click download or read online button to get buddhist epistemology book now. The book bases its investigation of the apoha theory on the succinct and accessible discussion of it found in the nyayamanjari, a text by the. The apoha theory is first and foremost an approach to the problem of universals the problem of the one over the many. International convention of asia scholars accelerating. The most distinguished contemporary scholars in this field have collaborated on a set of essays notable not only for their philological erudition and philosophical acuity but also for the fact that they engage one another so.
Key features of dharmakirtis apoha theory, by john d. The buddhist theory of self cognition gets free book. This seems unlikely, but without this common essence, it is difficult to see how we could teach someone to use the word pot or to see something as a pot. Download pdf buddhist logic and epistemology free online. This book is about the apoha theory of buddhist nominalism. This is a book about the apoha theory of buddhist nominalism. The theory of apoha exclusion represents one of the buddhist epistemologists most significant contributions to indian and, indeed, world philosophy. Dharmakirtis discussion of circularity, by pascale hugon 5. The buddhist theory of apoha the yogacara buddhist logicalepistemological tradition developed in diverse ways by dignaga c.
The problem is one of explaining how it is possible, when we see a pot, to think of it as a pot and call it by the name pot, a name that applies to many other. Apoha theory as an approach to understanding human cognition, by shoryu katsura 6. If the understanding of x is not reached positively, but x is understood via the exclusion of nonx, the buddhist nominalist is facing a problem of circularity, for the understanding of x would depend on. Dharmakirti, an indian buddhist philosopher of the seventh century, explored the nature, limits, and justifications of rationality within the context of buddhist religious and metaphysical concerns. It engages the issues in the pratyabhijna debate with the buddhists, with the interrelations of claude. About the book throughout the history of buddhism, few philosophers have attained the stature of dharmakirti, the lord of reason who has influenced virtually every systematic buddhist thinker since his. This theory attempts to explain what universals really are and how they are known, yet without accepting that any two real things are identical with each other. Shoryu katsura, professor of indian philosophy, hiroshima university. Kunjunni rajas article in buddhist logic and epistemology ed. Dharmakirtis thought and its impact on indian an tibetan philosophy. Dunne renders comprehensible some of the most basic and also challenging features of this seventhcentury buddhist thinkers thought.
It is exegetically robust, providing richly informed expositions of historical positions it is exciting and refreshing to read a book that coherently explicates common issues between distinct intellectual traditions with such philosophical rigor and independence of thought. The work is divided into two parts arranged into 26 chapters. He was one of the key scholars of epistemology in buddhist philosophy, and is associated with the yogacara and sautrantika schools. Brains, buddhas, and believing columbia university press. Dignaga and dharmakirti on apoha tom tillemans dignagas apoha theory. Buy apoha buddhism nominalism and human cognition book. More than that, it is a fine example of good practice in the preparation of translations from philosophical sanskrit into english. This theory may be easily confounded with the buddhist theory of apoha. Studies in the buddhist analysis of inference and language studies of classical india 7, dordrecht. About the book the history of buddhist logical and epistemological theories constitutes an interesting study for buddhist religious scholars and philosophers. The book promotes our understanding and, at the same time, can serve as a lucid introduction to one of the most important philosophers of indias past. An essay on classical indian theories of knowledge. The buddhist apoha theory tries to resolve this dilemma, first, by rejecting properties such as potness and, then, by claiming that the element uniting all pots is their very difference from all nonpots. Foundations of dharmakirtis philosophy book by john d.
Understanding dignaga to exemplify an authentically buddhist skepticism, hayes focuses particularly on dignagas logic, including translations of lengthy sections of the prama. The buddhist philosophy of universal flux wisdom library. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Part i discusses the nature of existence, logical difficulties, theory of causation, universals, doctrine of apoha, theory of soul and problem of afterlife. Constructing the content of awareness events, by parimal g. So they try to account for the i meaning of words, common nouns specially, in terms of the notion of apoha. Items related to ratnakirti on apoha buddhist books. Dravid and others are of the opinion that the apoha theory is, to all intents and purposes, a variety of nominalism. Realism in buddhist tradition two early tibetan realists moderate realism in tibet and madhyamaka moderate realism in india the role of universals in inference conclusion part iii. Reading bhaa jayanta on buddhist nominalism engages with an ancient indian philosophical theory, called the exclusion theory apoha, which was developed by indian buddhists from the fifth century of the common era onward.
Download buddhist logic and epistemology ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub. Buddhist logic and epistemology studies in the buddhist. The ones you will find are rather dense and even i have not spent much time on it as there are other areas of buddhism that i focus upon. Although originally a theory of meaning proposed by his predecessor dignaga, dharmakirti used it as a vehicle for articulating, in a philosophically precise way, the central mahayana buddhist teaching of the ultimately erroneous nature of all conceptual thought. About the book ratnakirti on apoha is a book on the buddhist theory of meaning or semantics. The sautrantika background of the apoha theory buddhist thought and asian civilization essays in honor of herbert v. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the the buddhist theory of self cognition, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. The philosophical works and influence of dignaga and.
Philosophy of language chapter 11 introduction to apoha the history of apoha and its reception grammar and philosophy of language in india dignaga on apoha. Apoha theory, one of the leastinvestigated subjects of buddhist logic and epistemology, is beautifully explained. Just what is the buddhist theory of exclusion apoha. Dunne thoroughly examines the achievements of previous scholars in the field, presents his own answers to the various questions related to dharmakirtis philosophy, and suggests what problems are yet to be solved.
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