Aptamimansa Critique of an Authority Bhasya

Author(s): Samantbhadracharya, Akalankadev, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Jagruti Dilip Sheth Dr

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CRITIQUE OF AN AUTHORITY
Section 5
In this section the problem discussed is whether the relation obtaining between an entity and its features is that of dependence or independence. The thesis asserts that the relation in question is that of absolute dependence, the antithesis that it is that of absolute independence; as against them, the synthesis asserts that the relation is somehow that of dependence and somehow that of independence. The advocate of the thesis is the Buddhist empiricist, that of the antithesis the Nyaya-Vaiseṣika. As hinted earlier, this discussion is in a way the left-over of that conducted in the immediately preceding section. For the problem of features may be divided into that of universal features and that of particular features, and even while Samantabhadra had somehow touched upon the problem of universal features in the preceding section he had there left almost untouched the problem of particular features. By raising in the present section the problem of features in general, scope has been provided for a comprehensive treatment of this one of the most important problems of ontology.
Section 6
In this section the problem discussed is whether inference or scripture is the authoritative source of knowledge. The thesis asserts that ir ference is the only authoritative source of knowledge, the antithesis that scripture is the only authoritative source of knowledge; as against them, the synthesis asserts that under certain conditions inference is the authoritative source of knowledge while under certain other conditions scripture is the authoritative source of knowledge. This obviously is a discussion on logic and it is reasonable to presume that the advocate of the thesis here is a thoroughgoing freethinker while the advocate of the antithesis a rabid theologian. It is interesting to watch how Samantabhadra seeks to avoid the (in his eyes undesirable) company of either.
Section 7
In this section the problem discussed is whether cognition is subjective or it has an objective reference. The thesis asserts that all cognition is a mere subjective manipulation, the antithesis that all cognition is true of its object; as against them, the synthesis asserts that there are cognitions that are truc of their respective objects and also those that are not thus true. This is primarily an epistemological discussion where the advocate of the thesis is the subjective-idealist