Indian Philosophy v2.c24.s5.14

v2.c24.s5.14

These illustrations are enough to bring out the necessity of a universal connection or vyāpti. Each vyāpti relates the two elements of a vyāpaka or the pervader and the vyāpya or the pervaded. Anumāna or inference derives a conclusion from the ascertained fact of the subject possessing a property which is pervaded or constantly attended by another property. We ascertain that the mountain is on fire from the fact that the mountain has smoke, and smoke is universally attended by fire. By the contemplation of the sign, middle term, smoke, we infer that the object which has smoke has also fire. Inference, according to Uddyotakara, is the argument from sign as aided by remembrance,¹ or the knowledge which is preceded by the perception of the hetu (middle term) and remembrance of its invariable concomitance with the sādhya or the major term. The different factors of inferential reasoning are brought out in the form of the syllogism.