Logic and Belief in Indian Philosophy

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The present volume explores a theme which has so far rarely received the attention it legitimately deserves, although its fundamental importance to proper understanding of the true nature of Indian philosophical enquiry and intellectual heritage seems unquestionable. Whether in Indian social and historical context or throughout the history of Western thought, the relation between logic, belief and philosophy have always been very complex and multifaceted.

The general theme of the enquiry presented here is adequately reflected in the title of the volume: Logic and Belief in Indian Philosophy, which aptly highlights the yukti-agama dimension. In particular, it focuses on various aspects of Indian thought, and Indian logic in particular, with special emphasis on the relationship, and tension, between rational examination and belief in Indian Philosophical tradition.

The contributions are grouped in thematic sections, the titles of which are self-explanatory. Some articles probe deeply into very detailed and intricate doctrinal aspects of selected Brahmanical philosophical schools and of Jaina and Buddhist traditions, whereas others attempt synthetic conclusions as well as methodological and theoretical reflection concerning the very nature of Indian philosophy and its religious background. The reader will also find as English translation of ‘The chapter on the negative-only inference’ (Kevala-vyatireki-prakarana) of Gangesa’s Tattva-cinta-mani, a ground-breaking work that revolutionized medieval Indian Logic.

Piotr Balcerowicz of no nationality (which he emphasizes), presently at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Warsaw University, Poland, specializes in Indian Philosophical tradition, with emphasis on Jainism; he teaches Sanskrit and Prakrits, and lectures on Indian philosophy and religions and contemporary history of Asia. He published extensively on Indian philosophy, and also on he Middle East and Central Asia in Polish, English and German, and authored a number of books on Indian philosophy, Jainism and history Afghanistan. Some of them are Essays in Indian Philosophy, Religion and Literature (with Marek Mejor), Essays in Jaina Philosophy and Religion, Jain Epistemology in Historical and Comparative Perspective (Two Vols.)

Preface

The present volume explores a theme which has so far rarely received the attention it legitimately deserves, although its fundamental importance to proper understanding of the true nature of Indian philosophical enquiry and intellectual heritage seems unquestionable. Whether in Indian social and historical context or throughout the history of Western thought, the relations between logic, belief and philosophy have always been very complex and multifaceted.

The general theme of the enquiry presented here is adequately reflected in the title of the volume: Logic and Belief in Indian Philosophy, which aptly highlights the yukti-agama dimension. In particular, it focuses on various aspects of Indian thought, and Indian logic in particular, with special emphasis on the relationship, and tension, between rational examination and belief in Indian philosophical tradition.

The selection of papers by world-acclaimed specialists in Indian philosophy deals with a broad spectrum of problems such as the real nature and status of reason and faith in India, their rational, or otherwise, grounding or the extent to which their correlation is bipolar or interdependent. A number of vital philosophical questions stimulated the discussion in the volume: Can we speak of the symbiosix or, rather, tension between philosophy, logic in particular, and religion in Indian context? How do sound proof and irrefutable evidence relate to the bequeathed body of dogmas? To what degree did Indian thinkers consider logical me and of enquiry independent of belief? How can logic itself be rationally validated without a recourse to assumptions sanctioned by tradition and belief? What is the place of skepticism or mystic experience vis-à-vis rational method and logical tools? How did Indian logicians try pramana? These questions do not only concern the relationship between the phenomena of religiosity and religion, on the one hand, and rationality and rational justification, on the other. They are also applicable to the spheres of ritual, religious-social practices, or even gambling, as well as to various ways of now behavior and religious acts were rationalized.

The contributions were grouped in thematic sections, the title of which are self-exlanatory. Some articles probe deeply into very detailed and intricate doctrinal traditions whereas other attempt synthetic conclusions as well as methodological and theoretical reflection concerning the very nature of Indian philosophy and its religious background. The reader will also find an English translation of ‘The chapter on the negative-only inference’ (Kevala-vyatireki-prakarana) of Gangesa’s Tattvacinta-mani, a ground-breaking work that revolutionized mediaeval Indian logic.

Some of these contributions were directly presented by the author during the International Seminar ‘Logic and Belief in Indian Philosophy - The Impact of Indian Thought in Asia and Europe’ (for the programme see below, p.9), held between 30 April and 5 May 2006 in Bialowieza, one the most beautiful and picturesque spots in Poland, in the heart of the great Bialowieza Forest, supposedly the largest primeval forest in Europe. The Seminar ‘Logic and Belief in Indian Philosophy’ was organized by Marek Major, Monika Nowakowska and Piotr Balcerowicz.

On this occasion, on behalf of the organizers of the Seminar, I would like to extend most sincere thanks to UNESCO, to the Polish National Commision for UNESCO, and the Rector of the University of Warsaw for their much appreciated financial support, without which the Seminar could not have taken place.

I also wish to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues Marek Mejor and Monika Nowakowska of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the University of Warsaw, for their organizational efforts that made the Seminar possible.

The present volume appears as Volume Three of the Series Warsaw Indological Studies by the arrangement with Motilal Banarsidass Private Limited, Delhi. When I met my friend Narendra Prakash Jain, the Director of Motilal Banarsidass, in December 2006 and mentioned the plans to publish the proceedings of the Seminar ‘Logic and Belief in Indian Philosophy’, he enthusiastically greeted the idea. I personally feel deeply obliged to him for his readiness to accept the publication for print and his efforts to make the contributions included in this volume available to a wider readership.