Gettier-like Problem in Indian Epistemology
Prakash Mondal
State Aided College Teacher in Philosophy, Katwa College, West Bengal, India
E-mail: reveal1991@gmail.com
Published online: 13th February, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52756/rpktbc.2025.e01.012
Keywords:
Abstract:
There is a widespread tendency among modern scholars of Indian philosophy to locate Nyāyā epistemology in Western tradition. Modern scholars like B.K. Matilal, J.N. Mohanty, and P.K. Sen have tried to discover the justified true belief factor in the Nyāyā concept of pramā. In the first part of my paper, I have distinguished a few kinds of scepticism and their sources. I have also shown that like the contemporary epistemologists the classical Indian Philosophers were aware of these. But the approach the Indian Philosophers adopted to meet the challenge of scepticism is significantly different from the approach epistemologists adopt. In the second part, at least one Gettier-like problem is found in Indian philosophy and is cited and explained. In the third part, I have discussed an instance of the characteristic way in which the Indian Philosophers meet the challenge of scepticism like Śriharşa.
References:
- Plato, Theatetus (2023). 208 C 6-7, From Internet Access on 30.07.2023.
- Gettier, E. ‘Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?’ in Knowledge and Belief. 1967. P. 2
- Ibid (1967). P.3
- Sarkar, P. (2003). Placing Nyāya Epistemology Properly in Western Tradition’ in Foundations of Logic and Language: Some Philosophical Issues in Indian Logic. New Delhi: Allied Publishers Limited. P. 162.
- Sen, P. K. (1997). The Concept of Pramā’ in Ś. R. Śaha edited Essays in Indian Philosophy, p. 252.
- Ibid (1997). P. 252.
- Tarkavagisa, P. (2004). Nyāya –parichay. Kolkata: Paschimbanga Rajya Pustak. 2004. P. 4.
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- Viśvanāth. Bhāșa-pariccheda. (2016). Kolkata: Mahabodhi Books Agency. P. 527-533.
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- Śriharşa. (1970). Khandanakhandakhady edited by Dr. Nabikanta Jha. Varanasi: Kashi Sanskrit Series. 1970. P. 167.
- Ibid. P. 167.
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- Sarkar, Proyash. (2003). Placing Nyāya Epistemology Properly in Western Tradition in Foundation of Logic and Language: Some Philosophical Issues in Indian Logic. Edited by Srilekha Datta & Amita Chatterjee. New Delhi: Allied Publishers Limited in Collaboration with Jadavpur University.
- Sen, P. K. (2000). Knowledge, Truth and Scepticis in Concept of Knowledge: East and West. Kolkata: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture.
- Śriharşa. (2000). Khaņdanakhandakhādya. Translated by Mahamohopadhyay Sri Srimohan Bhattacharjee. Kolkata: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Cultural.
- Tarkavagis, Phanibhusan. (2006). Nyāya Parichaya. Kolkata: Paschimbonga Rajya Pustak.
- Viswanath. (2016). Bhāşā-Pariccheda. Translated by Pandit Panchanan Bhattacharyya. Kolkata: Maha Bodhi Book Agency.
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How to Cite
Prakash Mondal (2025). Gettier-like Problem in Indian Epistemology. © International Academic Publishing House (IAPH), Dr. Rajiba lochan Mahapatra, Dr. Arpan Das and Dr. Somnath Das (eds.), Revisiting the past knowledge tradition of Bharat: A critique (Volume-1), pp. 107-112. ISBN: 978-81-978955-6-2
doi: https://doi.org/10.52756/rpktbc.2025.e01.012
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