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    The claim that all agents have perceptible bodies is itse... — Carmelics
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    Supports→The Nyāya inference that the world has an agent as an instrumental cause is defeated by the upādhi having-a-perceptible-body

    The claim that all agents have perceptible bodies is itself derived inductively from observed agents, making it epistemically dependent on the same inductive base as the Nyāya inference.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Our only access to agency is through observation of embodied beings; we cannot verify disembodied agents exist without empirical evidence.
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    • 2.The principle that perceptible bodies characterize agents relies on the same observational base as Nyāya inferences about causation and inference.
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    • 3.Without acknowledging this shared inductive foundation, we risk circular reasoning by treating one inductive claim as foundational while questioning another.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Conceptual truths about agency (e.g., intentionality requires some substrate) may be derivable a priori, not dependent on inductive observation of cases.
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    • 2.Nyāya inference aims to explain causation in the observable world; claims about necessary conditions for agency operate at a different logical level.
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    • 3.Even if both claims use observations, they may have different epistemic status: one could be a regulative principle while the other is empirical generalization.
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    Key Terms

    Epistemically dependent(describing the relationship between Perrin's methods)
    Relying on the same basic assumptions or beliefs in a way that undermines independence—if two things both assume the same foundation, they're not truly independent sources of proof.
    Inductive reasoning / Inductively(as used in epistemology)
    Drawing a general conclusion based on specific examples or observations you've seen—like concluding 'all swans are white' after seeing only white swans.
    Nyāya(as the philosophical tradition being discussed)
    An ancient Indian school of philosophy that developed detailed rules for logical reasoning and argumentation, similar to how Western philosophy has formal logic.
    Nyāya inference(as used in comparative philosophy)
    A specific method of logical reasoning developed by Nyāya philosophers to figure out what must be true based on evidence and logical rules.
    Perceptible(as used in epistemology)
    Able to be noticed or detected through the senses (sight, hearing, touch, etc.).
    agents(referring to people in this philosophical discussion)
    People, or more broadly, any thinking being capable of having beliefs and making decisions.
    inductive base(as used in epistemology (the study of knowledge))
    The collection of specific facts or observations you use as starting points to draw a general conclusion.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Causation1 linkedNatural Theology1 linked

    Related

    Conceptual truths about agency (e.g., intentionality requires some substrate) ma...Even if both claims use observations, they may have different epistemic status: ...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Nyāya inference aims to explain causation in the observable world; claims about ...
    Our only access to agency is through observation of embodied beings; we cannot v...
    +3 moreShow less
    The Nyāya inference that the world has an agent as an instrumental cause is defe...The principle that perceptible bodies characterize agents relies on the same obs...Without acknowledging this shared inductive foundation, we risk circular reasoni...