Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c4.4

c4.4

Subsections. The rational origins of Materialist thought (82–87). The three main types of Materialist schools according to their epistemological doctrines (88–89). The early existence of the school or schools in which perception only (90–91) or perception and verifiable inference were the means of knowledge recognized (92–94). The nihilist school which denied the validity of all means of knowledge may have had its origin as an early (pre-Buddhistic) rival branch of the realist school or schools (95–118) No evidence from the Nikāyas for the existence of Arthaśāstra Lokāyata (Machiavellian Materialism) (119) The Materialist criticism of the argument from authority (120–121). The kind of reasoning employed by the Materialist (122–129). The empiricist criticism of metaphysical concepts (130–133). The use of the *modus tollendo tollens* (134–135). Experiments devised to test an hypothesis (136–139). The Materialist critique of the claim to intuitive knowledge on the part of the Mystics (140–142).