Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

A forum for those wishing to discuss Buddhist history and teachings in the Western academic manner, referencing appropriate sources.
Post Reply
LionelChen
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:42 pm

Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

Post by LionelChen »

So in my quest for understanding, i've decided to undertaken the arduous task of studying Indian/Buddhist logic.

Except i'm not quite sure where to begin...even in a comparative sense.

Formal logic systems were never really that popular in my own culture. The historian of science, Joseph Needham, once said that
The Chinese were always more interested in the truth on which assumptions were based than on the verbal machinery for developing those assumptions. Explicit logic did not therefore have that continuously sustained interest which it received in the West.
That was from his work "Science and Civilization in China," volume VII; 1: xviii for those who are looking for sources.

He's a little inaccurate in the statement he makes, the Mohist schools of thought as well as the school of Names and some parts of Zhuangzi's work deal with linguistics and logic. But it was never really a sustained discipline.

You can see that trend in the manner in which a lot of texts were written. Arguments were often made by means of analogy.

So while i have i guess, a "second-hand" knowledge of Aristotlean logic - its not a subject matter that has come rather easy to me.

Any suggestions as to where to start would be most appreciated. :twothumbsup:

And for the Ponderous Academic portion for the thread; Is there much of a difference between Indian and Aristotlean logic? Any arguments/objections considered valid in one system but not the other? Any paradoxes ignored?
User avatar
Wayfarer
Former staff member
Posts: 5150
Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 8:31 am
Location: AU

Re: Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

Post by Wayfarer »

The major difference with Aristotlean logic is that Indian logic recognizes 'both is and is not and neither is nor is not'. Aristotle only recognizes is, is not, both and neither. (Don't quote me on the details but I think that is the gist of it.) You will notice these terms from the kinds of arguments that are regarded as 'inadmissable' like 'does the universe have a beginning'.

There was a Russian scholar by the name of Th Schterbatsky who wrote a two-volume book on Buddhist logic. I think it is regarded as a bit out-dated but it contains a lot of cross-references to Western philosophy. It's around as a e-book at no cost.

A good current title is Recognizing Reality by Georges Dreyfuss. It has a very detailed discussion of Tibetan interpretations of Dharmakirti.
'Only practice with no gaining idea' ~ Suzuki Roshi
Michael_Dorfman
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Re: Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

Post by Michael_Dorfman »

That's a huge, vague question, but I would say that for Indian logic in general, look at the works of B.K. Matilal and Jonardon Ganeri; for specifically Buddhist logic, I'd look at the large secondary literature on Dharmakīrti to begin with-- Tom Tillemanns and John Dunne probably wouldn't be bad places to start.
Huseng
Former staff member
Posts: 6336
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:19 pm

Re: Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

Post by Huseng »

Outlines of Indian Philosophy by Jadunath Sinha is a good start.

Pilgrims Publishing published it. It is a tidy though somewhat long introduction to classical Indian thought.

For something simpler see A Very Short Introduction to Indian Philosophy by Sue Hamilton. This is worth reading as an introduction actually as it assumes a general readership.
LionelChen
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:42 pm

Re: Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

Post by LionelChen »

Thank you for your suggestions!
LionelChen
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:42 pm

Re: Resources for Indian/Buddhist Logic?

Post by LionelChen »

By a rather generous donation from a friend, I shall be coming into possession of a copy of Debate in Tibetan Buddhism, which apparently is a translation of "Collected Topics of Valid Cognition."

I am rather excited, but it also made me a little curious. It makes sense given the exegetical nature of the Gelug tradition that a priority should be placed on the mechanics of debate and investigation. Are there any other schools around with their own "training manuals" if you will in the subject of logic and argumentation?
Post Reply

Return to “Academic Discussion”