Applications of ‘Veridical Cognition’ (Pramā) and its validity (Prāmāņya) in real life: An Indian Epistemological overview

Abstract

‘Veridical Cognition’ (Pramā) is the fundamental subject-matter of all human-beings for the sake of their existence in the world. We need accurate knowledge or veridical cognition to understand various kinds of information about the world around us. The whole universe would be covered with darkness except the existence of cognition. All worldly usages become in respect of any object. As long as the object remains unknown it would not be usable. Hence, ‘cognition’ (jñāna) is the fundamental cause of all usages. ‘Cognition’ is a central component of a well-lived life. It is actually the cornerstone of ‘epistemology’. There are many theories regarding ‘cognition’ in philosophy. However, the present paper mainly has been focused on the Navya-Nyāya theory of veridical cognition (pramā) and its applications in our real life. Moreover, it has been tried to show the ways of knowing its validity.