Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c9.3

c9.3

(245) A study of the ways of knowing of the non-Vedic thinkers shows that they can be classified along with the second and third groups of the Vedic thinkers. There is little doubt that the Materialists made use of reason both in evolving as well as in propagating their views though reason for them was on the whole subservient to perception. The Sceptics likewise seemed to have reasoned their way into scepticism though with the exception of the school of Sañjaya, they made little use of it since they kept aloof from controversy. The Ājīvakas were a mixed lot; they were primarily rational metaphysicians and dialecticians though some of them seem to have claimed personal intuitional insights. Similarly the Jains or at least their leader claimed personal and direct knowledge of things, while making use of reason in debate.