Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c8.7

c8.7

(147) That the intellectual confusion resulting from the presence of a diversity of views seems to have been the main motive for the birth of scepticism is apparent from the sayings and opinions ascribed to the Sceptics (ajñānikāḥ, ajñāninah) by Śīlāṅka commenting on the Sūtrakṛtāṅga. One has, however, to be cautious in picking out the sayings ascribed to the Sceptics from those attributed to the ajñānikāḥ or ajñāninah in general, since Śīlāṅka uses these terms in at least three senses. Sometimes he employs the word to denote 'the ignorant' religious teachers¹ following the usage of the Sūtrakṛtāṅga which uses the term in this sense at times (*v* annāṇiyā, 1.1 2 16). He also uses the term of the Buddhists who, he says, are 'more or less ajñānikas since they consider that karma done out of ignorance (he probably means "unintentionally") does not result in bondage'.² Most often, however, ajñānikāḥ, or ajñāninah is used as a technical term to denote the Sceptics following the usage of the Sūtrakṛtāṅga (*e.g.* 1.1.2.27, 1.12.2) and in this sense the word is defined either as 'those who claim that scepticism is best' (ajñānam eva śreya ityevaṃvādinām, Vol. I, fol. 35 on Sū. 1.1.2.17) or as 'those in whom no knowledge, *i.e.* scepticism, is evident' (na jñānamajñānam tadvidyate yeṣām te'jñāninah, *loc. cit.*; cp. ajñānam vidyate yeṣām, Vol. I, fol. 215 on Sū. 1.12.2). The term is also sarcastically defined as 'those who move in ignorance or those who show themselves off to the extent of being extraordinarily wise' (ājñānikāḥ) (ajñānena vā carantītyajñānikāḥ, ājñānikā vā tāvat pradarśayante, Vol. I, fol. 215 on Sū 1.12 2). When, however, Śīlāṅka makes the statement that, Ājīvikādayo Gośālamatānusārino'jñānavādapravṛttāḥ, *i.e.* 'the Ājīvikas and the others who are the followers of Gośāla's doctrines are a product of ajñānavāda',¹ (*op. cit.*, Vol. I, fol. 36), one is at a loss whether to translate ajñānavāda here as 'ignorance' or as 'scepticism' in the general or special senses. Since Śīlāṅka elsewhere identifies the 'followers of Gośāla's doctrines' as the Vainayikas,² (moralists) which Professor Basham finds a 'puzzling reference',³ it is unlikely that he thought of them as an offshoot of the Sceptics (ajñānavāda-) since he distinguishes the Vainayikas from the Ajñānikas.