(“analogy”) Upamana was one of the pramanas, or methods by
which human beings may receive real and accurate knowledge, according to
various philosophical traditions.
The classic example of this pramana is a traveler who is
informed that he would see a specific animal that resembles a cow when he
arrives in that place; when he arrives, the comparison helps him identify the
animal.
Some philosophical systems dismiss this as a kind of
inference rather than a distinct pramana (anumana).
Those who acknowledge it as a fourth pramana—primarily the
Nyaya Vaisheshika school—stress that a legitimate conclusion must be based on
earlier perceptions, according to the principles of inference.
Because he has never seen the sort of animal he sees before,
the traveler's ability to identify is not predicated on any distinctions taken
from past views of that type of animal.
It looks "a little like a cow," therefore he knows
what it is.
As a result, an extra pramana was required to accommodate
for this.
Also see philosophy.
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