________________ уін INTRODUCTION maintain that the discussions held at that time mainly relied on illustrations and analogies. This is the reason why the ancient works on logic discuss the question of 'Sophistic Answers' (Jatyuttara) in detail. Sophistic discussions are mainly based on homogeneous and heterogeneous types of examples. The Nyaya-sutra' and ancient Buddhist works on logic do not discuss in detail the problem of inference and invariable concomitance but analyse the process of 'Sophistic Answers'. The Nyaya-Sutra and ancient works on Buddhist logic include in them primarily the subjects relating to discussions and not the questions of pure logic. From a comparison of the Nyaya-Sutra, Charaka-Samhita, and Upayabridaya, it is clear that in the ancient logical methods there existed no fundamental difference on the basis of which the Buddhist logical method could be differentiated from that of non-Buddhist systems. The subjects to be proved were certainly different but the method of proving them was almost the same. Whether it was a matter of the existence of a permanent soul or that of a momentary consciousness, the method of argumentation was more or less the same, and it was generally accepted by all the schools. This is the reason why there was no separate Buddhist logic in ancient times. This however does not mean that the Buddhists did not play any role in ancient Indian logic. Nor do we want to advocate the view that there is absolute unanimity among the processes of argumentation of the Nyaya-sutra, Charaka, Upaya-hridya, Tarka-sastra etc. They do differ in certain 'Sophistic Answers;' nevertheless their dialectical methods are not absolutely independent from one another. A comparative study certainly shows that the ancient dialectical method was substantially the samel in all the schools. Both the Vedic as well as the Buddhist systems played an important part in developing the dialectical method, which later served as the foundation for the development of both the Vedic and the Buddhist logic. 2. Significance of Dialectics in Buddhism It was in the life-time of Lord Buddha that Buddhism For reference see Tucci--Pre-Dinnaga-Buddhist-texts (G.O.S.), Introduction, page 16.
