The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c3: Contents

The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c3

Language: English

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THE MECHANICAL, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL THEORIES OF THE ANCIENT HINDUS.

**Prakriti**, the Ultimate Ground—The Original Constituents and their Interaction — The Starting-point — Beginning of Evolution—Formation of Wholes or Systems—Collocation of Reals—The Formula of Evolution—The Conservation of Energy (and of Mass)—The Transformation of Energy—The Doctrine of Causation, a Corollary from the Conservation and Transformation of Energy—The Principle of Collocation—The Storing-up and the Liberation of Energy—Chain of Causation—Fixed Order—Time, Space, and the Causal Series—Space as Extension and Space as Position—The Causal Series—The Dissipation of Energy (and of Mass)—Their Dissolution into the Formless Prakriti—The Evolution of Matter—The Genesis of the Infra-atomic Unit-potentials and of the Atoms—Cosmo-genesis, a Bird's-eye View—Chemical Analysis and Synthesis—Elements and Compounds . 1–56

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CHEMISTRY IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF ANCIENT INDIA.

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Physical Characters of the Bhútas—The Mahá-Bhútas—Mechanical Mixtures—Qualities of Compounds—The extant Charaka and Susruta—Succession of Medical Authorities—Preparation of Chemical Compounds—Chemical Compositions and Decompositions—Organic Compounds — Poisons — Formation of Molecular Qualities in Chemical Compounds—Chemistry of Colours — *Parináma-váda* versus *Árambha-váda* — Measures of Time and Space—Bháskarácháryya, a Precursor of Newton in the Conception of the Differential Calculus and its Application to Astronomy—Measures of Weight and Capacity—Size of the Minimum Visibile (Size of an Atom) . . . 56–85

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Vedántic View.

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The Atomic Theory of the Jains.

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| **General Properties of Matter—Atomic Linking** . . | 93–98 |

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The Nyáya-Vaiseshika Chemical Theory.

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| **Theory of Atomic Combination—Chemical Combination—Mono-Bhautic Compounds—Hetero-Bhautic Compounds—The Theory of Dynamic Contact (Vishtambha)—Oils, Fats, Milks—Mixtures like Soups, Solutions, etc.—Chemical Action and Heat—Light-Rays—Theory of Reflection, Refraction, etc.—Arrangement of Atoms in Space—The Foundations of Solid (Co-ordinate) Geometry—Three Axes of Váchaspati—Graphic Representation of the Constitution of a Bi-Bhautic Compound (with "complex contact")** . | 98–121 |
| **Conception of Molecular Motion (Parispanda)** . | 121–123 |

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Addenda : Empirical Recipes of Chemical Technology.

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| **Searing of Rocks—Hardening of Steel—Preparation of Cements—Nourishment of Plants** . . . | 124–128 |

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CHAPTER II.

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HINDU IDEAS ON MECHANICS (KINETICS).

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Analysis of Motion—Motion considered in Relation to its Causes—Cause of Motion, or Force—The Concept of Vega—Causes of Pressure and of Impact—Illustrations of Combination of Forces—Composition of Gravity with Vega—Motion of a Particle in the Case of a Composition of Forces—Typical Cases of Curvilinear Motion—Vibratory Motion—Rotatory Motion—Motion of Fluids—Interesting Examples of Motion ascribed to Adrishta—Measurement of Motion—

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Units of Space and Time—Component of Velocity—Notion of Three Axes — Relative Motion — Serial Motion . . . . . . . 129–152

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CHAPTER III.

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HINDU IDEAS ON ACOUSTICS.

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Analysis of Sound—Analysis of Vibratory Motion, *e.g.* of a bell (in air)—Echo—Pitch, Intensity, and Timbre—Musical Sounds—The Notes of the Diatonic Scale : Determination of their Relative Pitch — Musical Intervals . . . . . . 153–168

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CHAPTER IV.

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HINDU IDEAS ABOUT PLANTS AND PLANT-LIFE.

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Classification of Plants—Elementary Ideas of Plant Physiology—Characteristics of Plant-Life—Sexuality—Consciousness . . . . . . 169–176

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CHAPTER V.

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HINDU CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS.

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Classification of Animals — The Dietary Animals in Charaka and Susruta—Snakes in Nágárjuna—Snakes in the Puránas—Umásváti's Classification of Animals—Recapitulation . . . . . . 177–201

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CHAPTER VI.

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HINDU PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY.

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Metabolism—The Chemistry of Digestion—The Vascular System — The Nervous System in Charaka — The Nervous System after the Tantras—Psycho-physiology—Ganglionic Centres and Plexuses (Sympathetic-Spinal System)—Nerve Cords and Fibres—Automatic and Reflex Activity of the Organism—Fœtal Development after Susruta—Heredity—The Sex Question—Life . . . . . . . 202–243

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CHAPTER VII.

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HINDU DOCTRINE OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD.

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Doctrine of Scientific Method—Test of Truth—Perception—Observation and Experiment—Results in the Different Sciences—Fallacies of Observation—Doctrine of Inference—The Chárváka View—The Buddhists, their Analysis and Vindication of Inference—Causality and Identity of Essence—How to ascertain Concomitance—Specific Cause and Specific Effect—Canon of the Method of Subtraction—The Joint Method of Difference (Pañchakáraṇí)—Proof of the Method—Doubt and its Limits—The Nyáya Doctrine of Inference—Definition of a Cause—Unconditional Antecedent—The Doctrine of Anyathásiddha—Elimination of the Irrelevant Factors—Nyáya Objection to the Method of Difference—The Nyáya Analysis of the Causal Relation Continued—Co-effects—Synchronousness of Cause and Effect—Plurality of Causes—The Nyáya Ground of Inference—Vyápti or Unconditional Concomitance—Ascertainment of Vyápti—Upádhi—Process of disproving suspected Upadhis—Tarka or Úha—Difference between the Nyáya Method and Mill’s Joint Method of Agreement—Other Instances of Vyápti—Relation of Causality to Vyápti—Plurality of Causes—Scientific Methods as subsidiary to General Methodology and the Ascertainment of Truth—Hypotheses—Conditions of a Legitimate Hypothesis—Nirnaya or Verification of a Hypothesis—The Deduction Method—Navya Nyáya and its Significance in the History of Thought—Applied Logic—The Logic of the Particular Sciences—The Scientific Methods as applied to Therapeutics—The Scientific Methods as applied to Grammar and Philology—Conclusion . 244–295