New Dimensions in Jaina Logic

Author(s): Mahaprajna Acharya, Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Today and Tommorrow Printers and Publishers

Page 137

VIII Universal Concomitance
(avinābhāva) Inference is based on probans and a probans is characterised by universal concomitance (avinābhāva) with the probandum. In other words, the principal factor in inference is the probans and the predominant feature of a probans is the universal concomitance. The universal concomitance is also called pervasion (vyāpti), necessary relationship or necessary connection (sambandha or pratibandha). Universal principles are formulated by means of universal concomitance and on the basis of those principles a probans determines the probandum.
The following are the basis of universal concomitance (avinābhava):
I. Tādātmya (Identity). II. Tadutpatti (Causality). III. Sahabhāva--Concurrence or co-existence. IV. Kramabhāva-Succession or successive occurrence.
The relation of identity (tādātmya) obtains between those that are co-existent. For instance, the probans and the probandum, from the standpoint of existence, are identical as exemplified in the inference 'this is a tree, because it is aśoka'. In this syllogism 'tree' is probandum and 'because it is aśoka' is the probans. In such inferences the probandum does not need any other kind of probans than the existence of property derived from or implied by the probandum itself. Such probans is called svabhāva hetu, i.e. what is identical with the probandum in some respect. There is necessary concomitance between asokahood and treehood and so such universal concomitance is rooted in the relation of identity. The pervasive probans (vyāpaka hetu) is also rooted in such identity. For instance, 'this region is bereft of jack tree (panasa), because there is no tree here.' In such inference the entity called the 'jack tree' is what is pervaded and the 'tree' is what pervades. There is necessary co-existence of what pervades with what is pervaded.