Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c8.63

c8.63

(upādānapaccayābhavo, D. II.57) but there is no need to believe that these Sceptics, would have had such a definite belief in survival or rebirth, though they would not have dismissed the possibility. If as was said in the Sūtrakṛtāṅga, the Sceptics too entertained beliefs about heaven and salvation (*v. supra*, 613) it is possible that they held them on pragmatic grounds without claiming actual knowledge. For, if Śīlāṅka's observations are correct, a favourite dictum of theirs was 'Of what use is this knowledge' (kim vā tena jñānena? *v. supra*, 155) as they did not believe that claims to knowledge had any pragmatic value. However, based on what is implied from the context, the more probable explanation is that this school of Sceptics merely considered it undesirable to be involved in beliefs based on one's likes or dislikes. They held this view not on the grounds that such involvement would lead to rebirth or survival but rather because such beliefs would be a source of worry and mental disquietude (vighāta-). In any case, it is clear that this school of thinkers, unlike the first, adopted Scepticism primarily out of moral considerations rather than for intellectual reasons although the latter were not absent.