In my last article, I dove deep into 3 of the 6 elements of Pramana which is a component of Vritti (best described as the disturbances to the natural state of being). In this article, I will discuss the other three elements — Arthapatti, Anupalbdhi, and Sabda.
Arthapatti refers to establishing the existence of something perceived through its absence. This form of postulating over the lack of information operates on the presumption that a particular condition or entity must exist to account for the observed facts. This condition is inferred as necessary to reconcile the observed data with logical consistency thereby solidifying the logic behind the rationale as discussed in Upamana. The inference is made not arbitrarily but as the most reasonable explanation given the perceived piece of information and logical constraints.
Anupalbdhi acknowledges that knowledge can be gained through the absence of information. It arises when the conditions for perceiving an object or property are present, yet it remains unperceived. This could be due to factors such as distance, darkness, occlusion, or sensory limitations, which prevent the object from being perceived despite its potential presence. Sort of like acknowledging that there are things you don’t know due to certain limitations.
This helps form a comprehensive base of knowledge that comprises both — what you know and what you don’t know.
