The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c10.9

c10.9

*Fallacies of Observation.*—Mal-observation and Non-observation :—These were carefully studied in relation to errors of observation, and hallucination (भ्रम, अध्यास, आरोप), which were ascribed to three causes : (*a*) Dosha, दोष, defect of sense organ, as of the eye in jaundice, or of the skin in certain forms of leprosy (leading to tactile insensibility, *cf.* Susruta), or defect of necessary stimulus, *e.g.* too faint light, or undue distance or nearness, in vision ; (*b*) Samprayoga, सम्प्रयोग, presentation of a part or an aspect instead of the whole ; and (*c*) Sanskára, संस्कार, the disturbing influence of mental predisposition, *e.g.* expectation, memory, habit, prejudice, etc.