Dharmakirti

Tibet,_c._15th-16th_century_-_Portrait_of_Dharmakirti_-_2010.474_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art

2_Pramana_Epistemology_Buddhism

Dharmakīrti was an influential Indian Buddhist philosopher and logician who lived during the 7th century CE. He is considered one of the most important figures in the development of Buddhist logic and epistemology. His works have had a profound impact on both Buddhist and Hindu philosophical traditions.

Biography

Dharmakīrti was born in South India, although the exact details of his early life remain unclear. He studied under the renowned Buddhist scholar Dignāga, who is often credited with founding the school of Buddhist logic. Dharmakīrti later moved to Nalanda, a major center of Buddhist learning, where he composed most of his significant works.

Works

Dharmakīrti's most notable works include:

• Pramāṇavārttika (Commentary on Valid Cognition)
• Pramāṇaviniścaya (Ascertainment of Valid Cognition)
• Nyāyabindu (Drop of Logic)
• Hetubindu (Drop of Reason)
• Sambandhaparīkṣā (Examination of Relations)
• Vādanyāya (Logic of Debate)

These texts primarily deal with issues of epistemology, logic, and metaphysics, and they have been extensively commented upon by later scholars.

Philosophy

Dharmakīrti's philosophy is characterized by his rigorous analysis of the nature of knowledge and the means of acquiring it. He identified two valid means of knowledge (pramāṇa): perception (pratyakṣa) and inference (anumāna). His work laid the foundation for the Pramāṇa school of Buddhist philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of logical reasoning and empirical evidence.

Perception

Dharmakīrti argued that perception is direct and non-conceptual, meaning that it provides immediate knowledge of objects without the mediation of concepts or language. This view contrasts with the Nyāya school's position, which holds that perception is always conceptual.

Inference

In his analysis of inference, Dharmakīrti developed a sophisticated theory of logical reasoning. He distinguished between different types of inference and provided detailed criteria for evaluating the validity of inferential arguments. His work in this area has been highly influential in the development of Indian logic.

Influence

Dharmakīrti's ideas have had a lasting impact on both Buddhist and non-Buddhist philosophical traditions. His works were studied and commented upon by later Buddhist scholars such as Śāntarakṣita and Kamalaśīla. In addition, his ideas influenced the development of Hindu logic and epistemology, particularly within the Nyāya and Mīmāṃsā schools.

Related Pages

• Buddhist philosophy
• Dignāga
• Pramāṇa
• Nyāya
• Epistemology
• Nalanda