Buddhist Logic

Abstract

Logic is the method of reason and systematic argument. Logic first occurred in Greece before it entered India. These two countries then created various systems of logic that is now widely used around the world, such as symbolic, scientific, inductive and deductive logic. In Buddhism, Buddha has mentioned the cautiousness of immediate belief in Kālāma Sutra (Kesaputta Sutra). However, the meaning of Logic in this Sutra differed from the meaning of the logic used nowadays. Thus, in the first part the researcher will analyze logic in three main aspects: meaning, history and system for understanding the character of Buddhist Logic that Buddha mentioned in Kālāma Sutra. Then, the researcher analyzed the logic in term of theory of knowledge, nature of reality and communication. The study found that there are three reasons why Logic should be used with caution. Firstly, the hightest stages of Buddhist knowledge (jhañāṇa) access by meditaion only not thought. Secondly, the using of thought might lead to misunderstanding about reality. And finally, the indian logic referes to the power of God and Vedas. Meanwhile the Lord Buddha supports the use of logic in the form of communication with deliberation and cause and effect approach because of human abilities to share and understand on their basic experiences.