The Ontology of Negation

In this book the author presents the position of the Nyaya-Vaisesika school of Indian Philosophy regarding the ontological question as to whether a distinct class of entities should be admitted as the objective counter-part of logical-cum-linguistic act of denial or negation. She analyses and defends the Nyaya-Vaisesika philosophers’ arguments in favour of admitting an objectively real category of abhava or absence corresponding to the negative form of judgements or statements. She also attempts to give a faithful account of the Nyaya-Vaisesika view of the ontological category of absence, dealing with the questions concerning its definition, its kinds and the means of knowing it. A more or less comprehensive idea of the Nyaya-Vaisesika realists’ doctrine or abhava can be obtained from this book.