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UGC NET PAPER 1 · UNIT 06 · MODULE 5: INDIAN LOGIC: INFERENCE · TOPIC 13

Hetvabhasas (Fallacies of Inference)

The conditions of a valid hetu, the five hetvabhasas in Tarkasamgraha order (savyabhichara, viruddha, satpratipaksha, asiddha, badhita), varieties and other lists.

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  • Topic 13 of 19

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  1. 13.1Meaning and the conditions of a valid hetuA hetvabhasa is a "pseudo-reason": a hetu that appears valid but is not.
    • hetvabhasa
    • five conditions (lakshanas)
    • Asiddha
    • 2. Sapaksha-sattva
    • 3. Vipaksha-asattva
  2. 13.2The five hetvabhasas of Nyaya (Tarkasamgraha order)# Fallacy Other name Defect Example 1 Savyabhichara Anaikantika (erratic) Hetu present in both sapaksha and vipaksha The hill has fire because it is knowable; sound is…
    • Savyabhichara
    • Viruddha
    • opposite
    • Satpratipaksha
    • equal strength
  3. 13.3Varieties (Tarkasamgraha)Savyabhichara (3 types):
    • Savyabhichara (3 types)
    • Sadharana
    • Asadharana
    • only in the paksha
    • Anupasamhari
  4. 13.4Other listsCovers Dignaga, Gautama's Nyaya Sutra, Dignaga's Hetucakra, trairupya.
    • Dignaga
    • three
    • Manikyanandi (Jaina)
    • Akinchitkara
    • Gautama's Nyaya Sutra

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13.1Meaning and the conditions of a valid hetu#

In brief

A hetvabhasa is a "pseudo-reason": a hetu that appears valid but is not.

  • hetvabhasa
  • five conditions (lakshanas)
  • Asiddha
  • 2. Sapaksha-sattva
  • 3. Vipaksha-asattva
  • Savyabhichara
  • 4. Abadhitavishayatva
  • Badhita

A hetvabhasa is a "pseudo-reason": a hetu that appears valid but is not. Nyaya lays down five conditions (lakshanas) of a valid hetu. A fallacy occurs when one is violated.

Condition Meaning Violation gives
1. Paksha-sattva (pakshadharmata) Hetu is present in the paksha Asiddha
2. Sapaksha-sattva Hetu is present in sapaksha (Viruddha)
3. Vipaksha-asattva Hetu is absent from vipaksha Savyabhichara (and Viruddha)
4. Abadhitavishayatva The sadhya is not contradicted by a stronger pramana Badhita
5. Asatpratipakshatva No counter-hetu of equal strength Satpratipaksha

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13.2The five hetvabhasas of Nyaya (Tarkasamgraha order)#

In brief

# Fallacy Other name Defect Example 1 Savyabhichara Anaikantika (erratic) Hetu present in both sapaksha and vipaksha The hill has fire because it is knowable; sound is…

  • Savyabhichara
  • Viruddha
  • opposite
  • Satpratipaksha
  • equal strength
  • Asiddha
  • not established
  • Badhita
# Fallacy Other name Defect Example
1 Savyabhichara Anaikantika (erratic) Hetu present in both sapaksha and vipaksha The hill has fire because it is knowable; sound is eternal because it is knowable
2 Viruddha Contradictory Hetu proves the opposite of the sadhya; hetu is pervaded by absence of sadhya Sound is eternal because it is produced; the hill is fireless because it has smoke
3 Satpratipaksha Prakaranasama A counter-reason of equal strength exists Sound is eternal because it is audible vs. sound is non-eternal because it is produced
4 Asiddha Sadhyasama Hetu is not established in the paksha The sky-lotus is fragrant because it is a lotus
5 Badhita Kalatita / Kalatyayapadishta Sadhya is contradicted by stronger evidence Fire is cold because it is a substance; water is hot because it is a substance

Memory order (S-V-S-A-B): Savyabhichara, Viruddha, Satpratipaksha, Asiddha, Badhita.

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13.3Varieties (Tarkasamgraha)#

In brief

Savyabhichara (3 types):

  • Savyabhichara (3 types)
  • Sadharana
  • Asadharana
  • only in the paksha
  • Anupasamhari
  • Asiddha (3 types)
  • Ashrayasiddha
  • Svarupasiddha

Savyabhichara (3 types):

  • Sadharana: hetu present in both sapaksha and vipaksha ("knowable").

  • Asadharana: hetu present only in the paksha, absent from both sapaksha and vipaksha ("Sound is eternal because it is sound").

  • Anupasamhari: the paksha includes everything, so no sapaksha or vipaksha exists ("All things are non-eternal because they are knowable").

Asiddha (3 types):

  • Ashrayasiddha: the locus (paksha) itself is unreal ("The sky-lotus is fragrant because it is a lotus").

  • Svarupasiddha: the hetu is absent from the paksha ("The lake has fire because it has smoke"; "Sound is non-eternal because it is visible").

  • Vyapyatvasiddha (Sopadhika): the vyapti is conditioned by an upadhi ("The hill has smoke because it has fire").

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13.4Other lists#

In brief

Covers Dignaga, Gautama's Nyaya Sutra, Dignaga's Hetucakra, trairupya.

  • Dignaga
  • three
  • Manikyanandi (Jaina)
  • Akinchitkara
  • Gautama's Nyaya Sutra
  • Dignaga's Hetucakra
  • nine
  • two

  • Dignaga recognises three (Asiddha, Viruddha, Anaikantika); Manikyanandi (Jaina) adds Akinchitkara to these.

  • Gautama's Nyaya Sutra names five: Savyabhichara, Viruddha, Prakaranasama, Sadhyasama, Kalatita (equal to Savyabhichara, Viruddha, Satpratipaksha, Asiddha, Badhita).

  • Dignaga's Hetucakra (wheel of reasons) lists nine possible relations of hetu to sapaksha and vipaksha; only two are valid.

  • Buddhist trairupya (three characteristics): pakshadharmata, sapaksha-sattva, vipaksha-vyavritti. Dharmakirti's three hetus: svabhava, karya, anupalabdhi.

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