Nyaya And Jaina Epistemology

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

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NYAYA AND JAINA EPISTEMOLOGY
addition of application. Naiyāyikas assert five parts with the addition of conclusion. Jainas say that strictly speaking only two parts are sufficient-paksa and hetu, e. g. “The hill is fiery" (Paksa), "because of smoke" (hetu). But for making the people of less wisdom understand, even the use of ten parts is admitted by them. But ordinarily, five parts are used. The other three members of the five-membered syllogism are "wherever there is smoke there is fire, such as the kitchen" (udāharaṇa). "The hill is smokey" (upanaya), "Therefore, it is fiery" (Nigamana).
Five-members of Syllogism
1. Thesis-(Pakṣa). Pramāṇamīmāmsa defines thesis as the statement of the theme to be proved, e. g. the hill is possessed of fire. By this sadhya becomes clear.
2. Reason or hetu-The definition of reason is 'statement of a probans ending in an inflexion (vibhakti) unfolding the character of probans is called reason'. The inflexion is fifth or the third case ending expressed in such as 'because' or 'since' in English. e. g. The hill is possessed of fire because it has smoke'. The existence of smoke is justifiable only because of its invariable relation with fire.
3. Example-Udāharaṇa-Example is the statement which gives illustration. It is of two types. Statement of illustration based on similarity of attribute or secondly, it may be based on dissimilarity of attributes.
4. Application-Application is the act of bringing the middle term into connection with the minor term, e. g. The hill is smokey.