Contents: Preface. 1. Buddhist Logic and Epistemology/Bimal Krishna Matilal. 2. An Interpretation of Anyapoha in Dinnaga’s General Theory of Inference/Richard P. Hayes. 3. Three Systems of Buddhist Logic/Hans G. Herzberger. 4. Dharmakirti and His Theory of Inference/Brendan S. Gillon. 5.Some Thoughts on Antarvyapti, Bahirvyapti, and Trairupya/Kamaleswar Bhattacharya. 6.Dinnaga and Post-Russell Logic/R. S. Y. Chi. 7. Metalogical Remarks on the Procrustean Translation of the Buddhist Pararthanumana into the Anglo-European Predicate Calculus/Douglas Dunsmore Daye. 8. Dharmakirti’s Definition of “Points of Defeat” (Nigrahasthana)/Michael Torsten Much. 9.Apoha and Shimshapavgrksha/Radhika Herzberger. 10. Jnanashrimitra on Apoha/Shoryu Katsura. 11. Apoha Theory and Pre-Dinnaga Views on Sentence-Meaning/K. Kunjunni Raja. 12. Was Shantarakshita a “Positivist”?/Mark Siderits. 13. Identity and Referential Opacity in Tibetan Buddhist Apoha Theory/Tom Tillemans. 14. Does the Madhyamika Have a Thesis and Philosophical Position?/D. Seyfort Ruegg. 15. Bhavya’s Critique of Yogacara in the Madhyamakaratnapradipa/Christian Lindtner. 16. The Concept of Reason in Jnanagarbha’s Svatantrika Madhyamaka/Malcolm David Eckel. 17. Ratnakirti on Apoha/Gopikamohan Bhattacharya. Index.
The history of Buddhist logical and epistemological theories constitutes an interesting study for Buddhist religious scholars and philosophers.
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. Scholars from different parts of the world combine historical and philological scholarship with philosophical acumen and linguistic insight to examine the issues relating to problems of inductive logic and the problem of meaning and the universals. They also address the crucial question regarding the relevance of logical theory to Buddhism, especially to the philosophical soteriology such as Madhyamika. Using both Tibetan and Sanskrit texts to delve deep into the logical issues and philosophical questions, they focus attention on two crucial philosophical concepts: trairupya or the triple character of evidence, and apoha — its meaning as “exclusion”. They examine the contributions of Buddhist scholars of yore in this regard, such as that of the Buddhist master Dinnaga and his general theory of inference, and in particular, his Hetucakradamaru, a study of propositions; Dharmakirti, particularly his theory of inference and definition of “points of defeat”; besides Santarakshita and Ratnakirti.
The volume, offering original perspectives based on detailed study of ancient texts and their interpretations, will prove an informative source for scholars of Indology, particularly those involved in Buddhist religion and philosophy. (jacket)
