Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c13.146

c13.146

The conclusion (logical) is that it would be better to wager p than not-p because in this alternative we win whatever happens, while in choosing not-p we lose whatever happens. The two theories that are contrasted above are the theories of atthikavāda and natthikavāda, between which it was urged on rational grounds that it would be better to choose the former, irrespective of their truth-value. In the course of the Sutta we find similar arguments to show that it would be better to believe in the kiriyāvāda (M. I.407) than the akiriyāvāda (M. I.406) or the hetuvāda (M. I 409) than the ahetuvāda (M. I.408).