Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Logic in tolkaappiyam

Handbook of Logical Thought in India

  • 122 Accesses

Abstract

tolkaappiyam shows us that logic had an important place in the primal society (known as tiNai). Such primal cultural practices as “tarukkam,” “vaakai,” analogical reasoning, the use of the criteria of knowledge (“aLavai”) in pre-marital life situations and in oral texts (such as mutumozi and kaaNTikai), and also the primal social institution, namely, the assembly (avai) where public debates were held, were all part of the philosophical tradition of this society. Such philosophy embraced logic, which had rhetorical as well as epistemic functions. If rhetorical logic was persuasive (as in tarukkam), and contestatory (as in vaakai in combat and in the assembly), epistemic logic (aLavai) was validative. In fact, early Tamil logic was a complex discipline not easily distinguishable from philosophy (especially, epistemology and ethics) and rhetoric.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • akanaanuuRu. http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0229.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

  • Arumugham, K. 1981. A critical study of Naccinaarkkiniyar. Madras: University of Madras.

    Google Scholar 

  • aruNaaccalam, mu. 1981. iLampuuraNar. aNNaamalaip palkalaikkazakam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balikci, Asen. 1970. The Netsilik Eskimo. New York: The Natural History Press (of The American Museum of Natural History).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bate, Bernard. 2009. Tamil oratory and the Dravidian aesthetic. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, John, and Susan Rowley. 2004. Uqalurait: An oral history of Nunavut. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • cagkaranamaccivaayar. 1964. nannuul muulamum viruttiuraiyum. cennai: tirunelveelit tennintiya caivacittaanta nuuRpatippuk kazakam, limiTTeT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, and Nagel. 1978. An introduction to logic and scientific method. Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd., rpt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, L. 1960. The rhetoric of Aristotle. Trans. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • cuntaramuurtti. 1981. tolkaappiyam. collatikaaram. ceenaavariyam. aNNaamalaip palkalaik kazakam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gnana Prakasar. 1999. An Etymological and Comparative Lexicon of the Tamil Language. cennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimes, John. 1988. A concise dictionary of Indian philosophy. Madras: University of Madras.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilakkuvanaar, S. 1963. Tholkappiyam (in English) with critical studies. Madurai: Kural Neri Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • kalittokai. http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0229.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

  • Kandaswamy, S.N. 1999. The types of syllogism in Indian logic with special reference to Tamil. Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies XVII.1: 19–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • kuRuntokai. http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0229.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

  • Mahadevan, Iravatham. 2003. Early Tamil epigraphy. Cennai: Cre-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahadevan, T.M.P. and V. Shanmugasundaram. 1975. tarkka vignaana muRaikaL (Methods of logic and science). Madras: Tamil Nadu Textbook Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • maNimeekalai. http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0229.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

  • Matilal, Bimal Krishna. 1999. In The character of Indian logic, ed. Jonardon Ganeri and Heeraman Tiwari. Oxford: OUP.

    Google Scholar 

  • murukaveeL, na. iraa. 1960. tarukka iyal viLakkam (Exposition of logic). Madras: paari nilaiyam.

    Google Scholar 

  • nannuul of pavaNanti munivar. www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0229.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

  • naTeecak kavuNTar, ku. 1961. niyaayak kaLajiyam. maturai: meenaaTci puttaka nilaiyam.

    Google Scholar 

  • pakavati. 1981. tolkaappiyam. marapiyal. uraivaLam (variorum). cennai: ulakat tamiz aaraaycci niRuvanam.

    Google Scholar 

  • pazamozi 400. http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0229.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

  • puRanaanuuRu. 2003. Commentator. iraa. iLagkumaran. Eds. tamizaNNal and cupa. aNNaamalai. kooviluur: kooviluur maTaalaiyam.

    Google Scholar 

  • puRapporuL veNpaa maalai, ed. 1988. cu.pa.iraamanaatan. Annamalai University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1987. Elements of axiology in tolkaappiyam. International Seminar on South Indian Contribution to Indian Philosophy. Dravidian Linguistics Association, 19–21 November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1988–1989. aLavai in tolkaappiyam. A Journal of Philosophy. Madras Christian College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1989. manRam. Tamil Civilization 7 (2–4): 39–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1990a. The syllogistic circle in tolkaappiyam. 65th Session of the Indian Philosophical Congress, Madurai-Kamaraj University, Madurai, 27–29 December.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1990b. ampalam (Ancient stone shelter). Taru 4: 27–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1993. potiyil. (Ancient Tamil structural edifice) ayvukkoovai (of 23rd symposium). Vol. 2 of All India University Tamil Teachers’ Association. Pondicherry: Pondicherry University. 44–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1996a. tamizk kaaTci neRiyiyal (Methodology of Tamil philosophy). cennai: ulakat tamiz aaraaycci niRuvanam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1996b. Elements of axiology in tolkaappiyam. Journal of Tamil Studies 49 & 50: 171–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 1998. Persona in Tolkaappiyam. Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvamony, Nirmal. 2000. The syllogistic circle in tolkaappiyam. Journal of Tamil Studies 57 & 58 (June & December): 117–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundaram, P.K. 1979. Some philosophical concepts in Puranaanuuru. Madras: University of Madras.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamil Lexicon. 1982. University of Madras. 6 Volumes. Rpt.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam. 1975. poruLatikaaram. Commentary by peeraaciriyar, 5th ed. tirunelveeli, tennintiya caiva cittaanta nuuRpatippuk kazakam limiTTeT, rpt.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam. 1975b. poruLatikaaram. akattiNaiiyal. uraivaLam (variorum). Ed. muttuccaNmukan, taa.vee. viiraacaami. maturai: maturaik kaamaraacar palkalaikkazakam.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam. 1982. poruLatikaaram. Commentary by iLampuuraNar. 8th ed. tirunelveeli, tennintiya caiva cittaanta nuuRpatippuk kazakam limiTTeT, rpt.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam. 1985. poruLatikaaram. ceyyuLiyal. Commentary by iLampuuraNar. Ed. aTikaLaaciriyar. tajcaavuur: tamizp palkalaik kazakam.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam. 1989. In poruLatikaaram. ceyyuLiyal. uraivaLam (variorum), ed. veLLaivaaraNan. maturai: maturaik kaamaraacar palkalaikkazakam.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam: akattiNaiiyal. 1989. Trans. Nirmal Selvamony. Nagercoil: Sobitham.

    Google Scholar 

  • tolkaappiyam muulam: paaTa veeRupaaTukaL: aaznookkaayvu (Textual variations of tolkaappiyam: advanced research). 1996. Ed. ke.em.veegkaTaraamaiyaa, ca.vee. cuppiramaNiyan, and pa.vee.naakaraacan. tiruvanantapuram: International School of Dravidian Linguistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varro. On the Latin Language. https://archive.org/details/onlatinlanguage01varruoft/page/184.

  • veLLaivaaraNan, ka. 1978. tolkaappiyattil tattuva neRik koLkaikaL (Philosophical principles in tolkaappiyam). tirukkoyil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidyabhusana, S. Chandra. 1978. A history of Indian logic. rpt. Motilal Banarsidass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zada, John. http://www.johnzada.com/blog/2015/inuit-song-duel/. Accessed 28 Feb 2016.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India

    Nirmal Selvamony

Authors
  1. Nirmal Selvamony
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nirmal Selvamony .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humani, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India

    Sundar Sarukkai

Section Editor information

  1. Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India

    Nirmal Selvamony

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature India Private Limited

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Selvamony, N. (2019). Logic in tolkaappiyam. In: Sarukkai, S. (eds) Handbook of Logical Thought in India. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1812-8_6-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1812-8_6-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-1812-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-1812-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Logic in
    Published:
    05 January 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1812-8_6-2

  2. Original

    Logic in
    Published:
    29 January 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1812-8_6-1

Search

Navigation