Write a short note on What is the difference between the notion of argument as it appears in deductive logic and the notion of inference as conceived in Indian logic ?
Write a short note on What is the difference between the notion of argument as it appears in deductive logic and the notion of inference as conceived in Indian logic ?
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The difference between the notion of argument in deductive logic and the notion of inference in Indian logic lies in their conceptualization and scope within their respective frameworks.
Deductive Logic:
In deductive logic, an argument is a structured set of statements where the truth of the conclusion is claimed to follow necessarily from the truth of the premises. Arguments in deductive logic aim for validity, meaning that if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. Deductive arguments rely on formal rules of inference, such as modus ponens and modus tollens, to establish the validity of logical relationships between propositions.
Indian Logic (Nyaya):
In Indian logic, particularly Nyaya, inference (anumāna) refers to a process of deriving knowledge about an unperceived or unknown entity based on perceived evidence or premises. An inference in Nyaya consists of five components: (1) the subject (sādhya), (2) the reason (hetu), (3) the example (udāharaṇa), (4) the application (upanaya), and (5) the conclusion (nigamana). Unlike deductive arguments, which focus on the necessary relationship between premises and conclusion, Nyaya inference emphasizes the epistemological process of deriving new knowledge from known facts or observations.
While deductive logic primarily concerns itself with the validity of logical relationships, Indian logic, particularly Nyaya, focuses on the epistemological process of inference as a means of acquiring knowledge. Thus, while both deductive logic and Indian logic involve the formulation of reasoned relationships between propositions, they differ in their emphasis and conceptualization of argumentation and inference.