Pramana Theory, Philosophical Terminology and Prescribed Texts
Pramana theory, terminology and prescribed texts
This domain tests epistemology and the vocabulary shared by the darśanas. Know the pramāṇas, the parts of inference, fallacies and the standard texts.
Pramanas
- Pratyakṣa: perception through indriya–viṣaya sannikarṣa; nirvikalpaka and savikalpaka.
- Anumāna: inference from liṅga to sādhya through vyāpti.
- Upamāna: knowledge through similarity or comparison.
- Śabda: testimony from a reliable speaker (āpta) or scripture.
- Nyāya accepts four; Cārvāka one; Bauddha two; Jaina three.
Anumana
- Pakṣa, sādhya, hetu, vyāpti.
- Five members: pratijñā, hetu, udāharaṇa, upanaya, nigamana.
- Hetvābhāsa: savyabhicāra, viruddha, prakaranasama, sādhyasama, kālātīta, badhita.
Terminology
- Vaiśeṣika: dravya, guṇa, karma, sāmānya, viśeṣa, samavāya, abhāva.
- Sāṃkhya: puruṣa, prakṛti, guṇa, tattva.
- Vedānta: Brahman, māyā, avidyā, mokṣa.
- Jaina: jīva, ajīva, bandha, mokṣa.
Prescribed texts
- Nyāyasūtra, Vaiśeṣikasūtra, Sāṃkhyakārikā, Yogasūtra, Mīmāṃsāsūtra, Brahmasūtra.
- Tarkasaṃgraha, Sāṃkhyatattvakaumudī, Vedāntasāra, Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha.
Worked example parvataḥ vahnimān dhūmāt. Pakṣa = parvata; sādhya = vahni; hetu = dhūma; vyāpti = yatra dhūmaḥ tatra vahniḥ. The knowledge is anumāna because it arises from the invariable relation, not from direct perception of fire.
Traps
- Confusing pramāṇa with prameya.
- Treating upamāna as mere analogy.
- Missing hetvābhāsa names.
- Mixing texts with systems.