Paksata: The Nature Of The Inferential Locus; (A Psycho-Epistemological Investigation Of The Inferential Process)

"The topic of Paksata is a unique contribution of Neo-Indian logicians to a psycho-epistemological analysis of the nature of the minor term in inference. Giving a technical twist to the commonly-accepted meaning of the term, Raghunatha Siromani, the greatest Indian logician, has construed this meaning in terms of the definition of what may broadly be called a psychological condition of inference. The simple commonsensical fact that a non-inferentially known fact can be sought to be known even inferentially if it is so desired, is the basis of the definition. Various combinations of inferential desires and non-inferential cognitions resulting in or preventing the relevant inferences are considered in the discussion of the definition to arrive at a perfect fit of these factors in the definition. Many important issues connected with causality which bear upon the subject are also considered in the course of the discussion."