Explain the theory of validity of knowledge (pramanyavada) according to mimamsakas. How did they criticize the nyara theory of validity?
Answers
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CHAPTER-II
THEORY OF INVALID KNOWLEDGE
Invalid knowledge or aprama is the wrong apprehension of an
object. If any knowledge lacks definiteness or certitude or does not
convey any new information or does not represent things as they
really are, it is invalid. Invalid knowledge is the manifestation of an
object which is actually not so. Hence it is an apprehension of a falsecognition in which the qualifier is not appropriately related to the
qualificant (visesa). All philosophers like astika and nastika are
attempted in their own way to analyse invalid knowledge and its
means. Different systems of Indian philosophy have forwarded
divergent opinions with regard to the theory ofinvalid knowledge and
its variety.
Nyaya Theory ofInvalid Knowledge :
In Indian epistemology knowledge is mainly of two kinds,
valid knowledge (vidya) and invalid knowledge (avidya). Valid
knowledge is what apprehends an object in its real nature. Invalid
knowledge is what apprehends an object as different from it1. Valid
1. tattvanubhavah prama, atattvajnanam aprama. SP.,p.59.