The tetralemma is a figure that features prominently in the logic of India.

Definition

It states that with reference to any a logical proposition X, there are four possibilities:

Tetralemma

(affirmation) (negation) (both) (neither)

Tetralemma

Catuskoti

The history of fourfold negation, the Catuskoti (Sanskrit), is evident in the logico-epistemological tradition of India, given the categorical nomenclature Indian logic in Western discourse. Subsumed within the auspice of Indian logic, 'Buddhist logic' has been particularly focused in its employment of the fourfold negation, as evidenced by the traditions of Nagarjuna and the Madhyamaka, particularly the school of Madhyamaka given the retroactive nomenclature of Prasangika by the Tibetan Buddhist logico-epistemological tradition. Though tetralemma was also used as a form inquiry rather than logic in the Nasadiya Sukta of Rigveda (creation hymn) though seems to be rarely used as a tool of logic before Buddhism.

Tetralemma

See also

De Morgan's laws

Paraconsistent logic

Prasangika

Two-truths doctrine

Catuṣkoṭi, a similar concept in Indian philosophy

References

External links

Wiktionary definition of tetralemma

Twelve links blog Notes on the tetralemma

History of logic

Logic

Lemmas