Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 1

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 108

FALLACIES
97
recognizes six types of fallacies of example not in opposition with (i) the probandum, (ii) the probans, (iii) both, and when the opposition with (iv) the probandum, (v) the probans, and (vi) both is in doubt. We prefer the treatment of this topic and examples given by Hemacandra as they are uncontroversial and more intelligible. Siddharşi's objection to the two other topics, namely, the want of negative concomitance and non-demonstration of the negative concomitance is on a par with his attitude to the similar cases in respect of concomitance in agreement. As we have dealt with this topic before, we do not think it necessary to dwell on the matter in respect of negative concomitance. We now quote from Hemacandra's Pramānamimämsä the following passage which gives fuller treatment of the matter. "In the very syllogism "Sound is eternal being destitute of finite magnitude', atom, action and ether are false examples being not in opposition with the probandum, probans and both. Whatever is not eternal is not destitute of finite magnitude to put it in the positive form: Whatever is perishable is possessed of finite magnitude'). for instance (in opposition), an atom'. The example (viz. atom) is not possessed of concomitance in opposition with the probandum (in other words, is not concomitant with the opposite of the probandum), inasmuch as atoms are eternal. Were action cited (as the opposite example), it would be one lacking the absence of the probans since action is destitute of finite magnitude (and not lacking in the probans as it should have been). Were ether (cited as an example in opposition it would be one) lacking the absence of both the probans and the probandum), for ether is both eternal and bereft of finite magnitude. Thus these three are the types of false examples in opposition"..
The author has dealt with syllogistic argument and analyses its constituent members into the statement of the thesis, probans, example and also their false simulations. This elabrorate treatment of the fallacies is justified because it enables the parties to the debate to expose the defects of other's arguments and avoid them in their own arguments. Now the author proposes to give a definition of confutation and its false simulations in the next verse.
Text vadyukta-sadhane proktadosāpāmudbhavanam / düşanam niravadye tu daşanabhāsanāmakam //
Translation “Confutation consists in the exposure of the aforesaid defects in the syllogistic argument propounded by a debator (for the proof of
1. A Critique of Organ of Knowledge, p. 154.
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