Negation, Logic and Semantics (An Old and Rare Book)

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This book is a revised form of my Ph.D. thesis titled "A Critical Study of the Buddhist Doctrine Of Apoha". I consider it my duty to thank those who have helped me in writing this thesis. First of all, I owe my deepest gratitude to my revered teacher Dr. Ramendra Nath who has supervised my thesis with great interest. My thanks are also to my former teacher Professor H.S.Prasad, now the U.G.C. research Scientist-C, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi, Delhi, who gave me valuable suggestions and photocopies of some important material during my Delhi visit. My special thanks to Dr. Uma Shankar Sharma 'Rishi' of Sanskrit Department, Patna Univer- sity, Patna, who translated some verses from 'Pramanavarttikam' of Dharmakirti into English for me, which was very difficult to understand in the Sanskrit original. I wish to thank Dr. S.Jha, Depart- ment of Philosophy, Patna University, Patna, who saw the first draft of this thesis and gave his valuable comments. I am grateful also to Dr.Jagdishwar Pandey, Director and Dr.C.P.Sinha, Assistant Director respectively of K.P.Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna for their keen interest in publishing this research work from their esteemed Institute.

The doctrine of apoha can be studied from epistemological metaphysical as well as linguistic point of view. What is traditionally known as the problem of universals is a problem of metaphysics and epistemology, if it is viewed as a problem of explaining the perceived generality of our experience and our knowledge of it. On the other hand, when it is viewed as a problem of justifying our use of general words or of investigating what the general words refer to, it becomes a problem of meaning or of philosophy of language.