Classical Indian Epistemology the Theory of Khyativada, Atma, Sadasat and Anirvachniya Khyati
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Classical Indian Epistemology: The Theory of Khyativada & Eight Theories (Philosophy)
Khyati-Vada
- Khyati means error and Vada means discourse or theory.
- So, Khyati-Vada is the theory of error.
- It means errors that occur in perception.
- The schools of Indian philosophy accept eight theories of error. They are;
- Atma-Khyati
- A-Khyati
- Sadasat-khyati
- Anirvachniya-khyati
- Asat-Khyati
- Anyatha-khyati
- Sat-Khyati
- Viaparita-khyati
Atma-Khyati
- It is referred to as the idealistic theory.
- It negates all external objects.
- Here, perception includes mental Vritti or modification.
- Advocated by Yogacara/Vijnana-vada school of Buddhism.
- Error is super-imposition form of cognition on the so called external object which is regarded as unreal.
A-Khyati
- Advocated by Prabhakara school of Purva-Mimamsa.
- Does not admit of error in the logical sense. No logical distinction between knowledge and error.
- Believe in intrinsic validity of knowledge.
- So, all knowledge is valid per se and error is only partial truth.
- Other words, error is only imperfect knowledge.
- Error also regarded as Non-apprehension.
- Error can never be regarded as unitary knowledge.
- Error is due to the non-discrimination between the two cognitions.
- Error is regarded as commission. Not omission.
Sadasat-Khyati
- Advocated by Later Sankhya school of Indian philosphy
- It is based upon the united perception of real and unreal object.
Anirvachniya-Khyati
- Advocated by Advaita Vedanta school of Sankara.
- According to them, object is neither real nor unreal. It is mithya.
- Error is indescribable, indeterminate and inexplicable.
- Error is unreal because it has no existence apart from Brahman and error is not unreal because it projects the world of appearance or phenomenal world.
Asat-Khyati
- Advocated by Madhyamika School or Shunya-vada school of Buddhism.
- It involves perception of non-existent entities.
- Shunya forms the basis for all apparent perceptions.
- It was believed to be given by Nagarjuna.
Anyatha-Khyati
- Advocated by Nyaya-Vaisesika school of Indian Philosophy
- This theory of error is similar to Kumarila՚s Viaparita-khyati.
- Error is due to wrong synthesis of the presented and the re-presented object.
- In other words, the represented object is confused with the presented object.
- The word, anyatha means elsewhere.
- In other words, the presented object is seen elsewhere and the represented object exists elsewhere.
- The shell is misperceived as silver which exists somewhere else.
- They recognise subjective element in the theory of error.
Sat-Khyati
- Advocated by Ramanuja of Visishtadvaita Vedanta School.
- According to this theory, there is no error.
- The silver is as real as the shell. The shell appears as silver because there are some particles of silver in the shell.
- This view is similar to the view of Prabhakar՚s theory of Khyati called a-Khyati.
- Error is regarded as non-apprehension and not misapprehension.
- So, error is regarded as partial truth or incomplete truth.
- Cognition is never regarded invalid.
- There is no subjective element found in error.
- Therefore, distinction between error and truth is only practical.
Viaparita-Khyati
- Advocated by Kumarila Bhatta school of Purva-Mimamsa.
- There is a logical distinction between truth or knowledge and error.
- Error is misapprehension. Not non-apprehension.
- Error is regarded as a unitary knowledge and not a composition of two imperfect cognitions.
- Error is regarded as omission. Not commission.
- Error is due to positive wrong synthesis of two elements, the perceived and the remembered.
- Memory is cause.
Points to Remember!
- The theory of error or Khyati accepted by Prabhakara school (Akhyāti) , the Sat-Khyati of earlier Sankhya school, and the Khyati of Ramanuja school (Sat-Khyati) comes under one group which holds error as mere non-apprehension.
- The theory of error or Khyati accepted by Kumarila school of Purva-Mimasa (Viaparita-khyati) , the Anyatha-khyati of Nyaya, and the Sadasat-khyati of later Sankhya school come under one group which holds error as mis-apprehension.
Questions
1. Khyati-vada deals with the theory of
A. Doubt
B. Mistake
C. Error
D. All of these
Answer: C
2. According to the theory of Khyati-Vada, error occurs in
A. Pratayaksha
B. Anumana
C. Arthapatti
D. Both A and B
Answer: A
3. Atma-Khyati is advocated by
A. Madhyamika school of Buddhism
B. Vijnana-vada school of Buddhism
C. Buddhism
D. Both B and C
Answer: B
4. The shell is misperceived as silver which exists somewhere else- this is the view of
A. Atma Khyati
B. Viparita Khyati
C. Anyatha Khyati
D. Asat Khyati
Answer: C
5. Cognition is never regarded invalid in which Khyati
A. Sat Khyati
B. Asat Khyati
C. Viparita Khyati
D. All of these
Answer: A
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#error
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#Epistemology
✍ Manishika