Indian Logic: Exploring the Pramanas
by Yuvi K - December 16, 2023
Exploring the Principles and Source of Indian Logic: Pramanas
“What is truth?” This is a question that has been debated by philosophers and sages for centuries. In Indian philosophy, a system of logic called the Pramanas was developed to answer this question by providing a basis for verifying knowledge. This article explores the fundamentals of Pramanas, the six sources of knowledge it contains, and their implications for modern thought.
What are Pramanas?
Pramanas (प्रमाण, Pramaanas) are the sources of knowledge accepted by Indian logic. It is a conventional system of logic which provides a basis for verification of knowledge for all practical purposes. Pramanas are also known as the Profound Three (त्रिप्रमाण, Tripramanas).
The Six Pramanas
The six Pramanas are:
| Name | English translation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pratyaksha | Perception | Direct and immediate knowledge of objects and matters, typically acquired through the five senses; truth can be known through observation and experience. |
| Anumana | Inference | Induction of facts, properties, and causal relationships from a limited sample to a general conclusion. |
| Upamana | Comparison | Comparison of an unknown thing or person with one that is known. |
| Arthapatti | Implication | Inferring a truth from accepted premises and other truths. |
| Anupalabdhi | Non-apprehension | Realization of the true nature of something by absence of evidence or any trace of its presence. |
| Shabda | Revelation | The accepted truths of the assumed scriptures as dictated by learned people, or other reliable sources. |
Concepts of Rationality and Justified True Belief
The Pramanas are a reflection of the concepts of rationality and justifiable truth belief in the Indian philosophical system. Pratyaksha involves according importance to observation and experience as a source of knowledge, while inference is based on the collection of evidence and seeking out the truth through deduction.
Upamana is an important source of knowledge, since it deals with the comparison between the known and the unknown and the conclusion arrived at based on this comparison. Arthapatti is a unique source of facts and causal relationships which are derived from accepted premises or other established truths.
Anupalabdhi involves the realization of truth by the absence of evidence or trace of its presence. It is a unique source in the Pramanas, making an important contribution to Indian logic.
Finally, Shabda is based on the accepted truths of scripts, which form the ultimate source and basis of the Pramanas. Thus, the entire system of the Pramanas revolves around the concept of rationality and justifiable true belief.
Implications for Modern Thought
The system of the Pramanas has been important in the history of Indian thought. It is a comprehensive system that attempts to answer the question of knowledge acquisition. Its emphasis on perception, inference, comparison, implication, non-apprehension, and revelation as the six sources of knowledge shows that Indian logic has been concerned with the problem from early times.
Though the Pramanas provide a system of logic, they become less important in the modern era, since the scientific method has replaced much of the reliance on metaphysics and other traditional sources of knowledge. The Pramanas continue to provide a model for rational thinking and justifiable true belief, however, and can offer valuable insights into the problem of knowledge acquisition.
Conclusion
The Pramanas provide an important source of information for understanding Indian logic. These six sources of knowledge provide a basis for rational thinking and justifiable true belief. Though the Pramanas may not be as relevant in the modern era as they were in the past, their principles and implications remain important in understanding the problem of knowledge acquisition.
