Negative Object and Cognitive Object in the Reason of Non-cognition

Abstract

In the Hetubindu, Dharmakīrti defines the non-cognition of the pot which is a negative object as the cognition of the spot (pradeśa) which is another cognitive object in the passages of the reason of non-cognition (anupalabdhihetu). Such a spot is qualified which has the nature of not being associated (asaṃsṛṣṭa), which is isolated (kevala) and which is another object (anya). This paper examines how Arcata interprets such qualifiers in the Hetubinduṭīkā.

Arcata interprets the spot which has the nature of not being associated with the pot as divided into the two cases that the spot is another and that it is isolated. In the former case, it indicates logical non-association. In the latter case, it indicates ontological non-association.