The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c10.90

c10.90

Now introduce the complication of the plurality of causes :—Fire, for example, is the effect of several assemblages, *e.g.* (1) blowing on heated grass ; (2) focussing rays through a lens on a combustible like paper or straw ; (3) friction with the fire-drill, etc. Here each assemblage is regarded as a sum of causes. But in this case there is no Vyápti between the effect "fire" and any particular assemblage of causal conditions, say of the lens or the fire-drill ; for the presence of fire does not indicate the presence of the lens or the fire-drill assemblage, nor does the absence of either of the latter in particular indicate the absence of fire. Indeed, in such a case the effect "fire" is not a mark or sign (Gamaka or Vyápya) of any one in particular of the different possible causal assemblages, though each of these particular assemblages of causal conditions is a mark or sign (Gamaka or Vyápya) of fire.