Exam 3: Appearance and Reality in Ancient India

The Buddha thought that we have attachments to things because, fundamentally,

In what sense did early Buddhists claim that all things are impermanent (anitya)?

Contrast Nāgasena's and Vaiśeṣika's arguments for and against the reality of wholes over and above their parts. How does Nāgasena show that wholes are ultimately unreal? How does the Vaiśeṣika notion of inherence respond to Nāgasena's challenge, and is this response successful?

On explanation of the theory of testimony, someone is a trustworthy authority when that person has direct knowledge of some fact and has a desire to communicate that fact.

According to N, the name "N11ef258c_5011_888d_bd33_557cf2cf52f4_TBO1325_11" is

Choose two of the strongest arguments given by Nyāya for the existence of the self (ātman), and explain why you find them plausible. Then, consider possible objections which can be raised by Buddhists against these two arguments. Discuss whether you think Nyāya can respond to these objections, and articulate which position you think is ultimately more sound.

The Vedas are composed of hymns devoted solely to the polytheistic worship of nature deities.

is trying to convince Milinda that the name "11ef258e_814b_b28f_bd33_6fc53959fff0_TBO1325_11" refers just to one specific type of skandha, and not any others.

How is the Nyāya refutation of the claim that "nothing exists" an instance of tarka?

The Buddhist doctrine of non-self ( ) entails that there is no entity which can constitute or belong to a person's identity or essence.

For the Bhagavad entails that

To refute the idea that there is a self who is an autonomous author of one's actions, the Buddha cites the doctrine of

According to , the self ( ) is

What are the reasons why the Upaniṣads claim that the self (ātman) is immortal?

For , the existence of desire, aversion, effort, pleasure, pain, and knowledge are inferential marks which prove the existence of

The role of particularity ( ) in the system is to

Within the Vedas, philosophical reflections on Vedic myths, hymns, and rituals are found primarily in the

What is an inferential mark, and what are three types of inference according to the Nyāya Sūtra? Give your own examples for each of the three types.

According to , a universal property of redness inheres in an individual instance of red color, the red color inheres in a substance, and all three of these entities can be perceived by our sense faculties.

Having failed to identify N with any of his body parts or any of the five skandhas, King Milinda initially thinks that