भारतीय दर्शन में अभाव की समस्या
By Hemlata Srivastava
Summary
This Hindi article explores the problem of non‑existence (abhāva) in Indian philosophy. It surveys schools like Nyāya‑Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāṃsā and Vedānta, explaining that the Vaiśeṣika system recognises four types of non‑existence: prior absence (prāgabhāva), destruction (pradhvaṃsābhāva), absolute absence (atyantābhāva) and mutual non‑existence (anyonya‑abhāva)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhava#:~:text=Abhava%20means%20non,being%2C%20becoming%2C%20existing%20or%20appearance. The article discusses debates on whether absence is a real entity or a conceptual category. Mīmāṃsakas argue that absence is perceivable through a distinct means of knowledge, while Vedāntins interpret it relative to Brahman. Examples such as the missing jar on a table illustrate how absence becomes an object of cognition. The author concludes that Indian philosophers developed sophisticated analyses of negation, treating abhāva as a legitimate ontological and epistemological category.
Conclusion
By reviewing arguments across philosophical schools, the article shows that non‑existence is not mere nothingness but a carefully defined category with different types and epistemic implicationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhava#:~:text=Abhava%20means%20non,being%2C%20becoming%2C%20existing%20or%20appearance. Understanding abhāva illuminates the precision of Indian logic and its nuanced treatment of negation.