Buddhist Logic

Abstract

Thinking and logical reasoning are not totally negated in Buddhist Philosophy, but they are considered only in terms of suttamayapanna and cintamayapanna - that is, knowledge gained by study and reflection. This knowledge always need to be guided by Truth and Ethics. Before his Enlightenment, the Buddha utilized logic as way of exploring and examining knowledge, truth, righteousness and goodness in the mundane world. His efforts were conducted among many other theorists who were keen on offering popular logical discourses on philosophical speculation. The Buddha and his disciples utilized Buddhist Logic as one of the strategies to propagate Buddhism and to teach Buddhist philosophy, a philosophy which is characterized by “rationalism in relativism” under the Principle of Dependent Co-origination. This principle covers Buddhist ethics, ontology, epistemology and axiology. However, in thinking and in the use of logical reasoning, the Buddha placed great emphasis on the use of normative principle in evaluating logic and beliefs. In the Kalamasutta, the first instructions begin with ‘Be not led simply’ by a mind of faith, delusion, or anxiety. There have been people in philosophy of science who have applied these principles for the formation of their Logic in Science. As a consequence, Buddhist thinking and logical reasoning follow different forms and contents, but always guided by wholesome intent. According to the Principle of Wise Consideration, logical reasoning serves only as a basis in order to develop special attributes of being human, namely, Excellence in Wisdom together with Nobility of Conduct.