The Kinds, Conditions and Model of Causality Inference in Hetuvidyā

Abstract

There are two kinds of causality inferences in HetuvidyÄ (Buddhist logic), one is the inference from causes to effects and the other is from effects to causes. In this paper, we present the general understanding of causality in HetuvidyÄ based on the causality theory. First, we examine how Avayava (syllogism) and Tá¹›airupya (Three-aspected mark) enhance the causal necessity in HetuvidyÄ. Moreover, we investigate the existence theorem of causality and some presuppositions of causality inferences in HetuvidyÄ. In conclusion, the inference from effect to cause is the major kind of the causality inference in HetuvidyÄ. In the matter of determining the causality between substances or events, specifically determining A is the cause of B, some conditions need to be satisfied.