Nyaya And Jaina Epistemology

Author(s): Kokila H Shah
Publisher: Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 54

COMMON SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE....
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Modern Nyāya logicians define perception as that knowledge which is not the result of any previous knowledge. It is "knowledge which is not brought about by the instrumentality of any previous knowledge". It is clear that the element of immediacy in perception is emphasised here. This definition of perception comes close to Jaina definition off perception which also emphasises that it is direct knowledge. This Neo-Nyaya definition of perception seems to be more appropriate as it is applicable to all kinds of perception human as well as divine and it excludes all other kinds of knowledge which are non-perceptual in character like inference etc. It seems true to maintain that sense-contact with the object is not the essential condition of perception. There may be the cases of knowledge which are perceptual in character and yet not the results of sense object contact. Modern Nyāya philosophers seem to realize this truth.
Classification of perception
Perception has been classified by Nyaya into two broad classes :
1. Ordinary.
2. Extraordinary.
When the contact between the senses and the object is ordinary, we have ordinary perception while in case of extraordinary perception the contact between the object and the senses is not usual but is extraordinary.
Ordinary perception is again divided into :
1. External.