Question about anumAna

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Dear Sri. Anand/Sri. Hari/Bhagavatas

 

I am writing in regards to a gap in my understanding about PramAnas

(valid sources of acquiring knowledge), maily anumAna (inference.) I

would greatly appreciate some help from bhagavatas. The sources I

have are the section on PramAnas in Fundamentals, Advaita and

Vis'istAdvaita, and Tarka Samgraha.

 

For the Vedantin Inference is the means by which to establish invariable

concomitance between reason and conclusion. In a footnote in his book

Fundamentals of Vis'istAdvaita, Sri. Chari states that Sri. Vedanta Desika

does not recognize tarka as distinct from anumAna. Going by the broad

definition for inference, it follows that all valid arguments are inferential in

nature (mathematical or philosophical); this is probably the reason why

Sri. Vedanta Desika does not recognize tarka as distinct from

anumAna(Sri. Vedanta Desika asserts that tarka is a type of anumAna.)

 

Given the background above I will outline the gap in my knowledge:

 

The discussion on anumAna in Fundamentals as well as in the Tarka

Samgraha states that perception is the basis for establishing the

invariable concomitance between reason and conclusion.

 

Now does this mean inference is limited to the sensory world?

 

The manas is also recognized as a sense organ by Vedantins. The

manas is the source of information about objects that are within the

realm of common experience, but not within the realm of perception (5

sense organs)

 

With manas added to the five sense organs, can one say that inference

is limited to the realm of common experience and not just the sensory

world?

 

-This would be consistent with the notion that tarka is a type of

anumAna. That is, tarka is anumAna relating to arguments where both

reason and conclusion are within the realm of common experience but

beyond the realm of the 5 sense organs (excluding manas.)

 

I would greatly appreciate any feedback-may want to use private mail as

the topic may not be of general interest.

 

Thanking You,

ramanuja dasan,

Venkat