The paper critically discusses the limitations of binary epistemology and then argues for its nuanced approach. The paper further examines the three alternative epistemological perspectives from classical Indian philosophical traditions that move beyond binary thinking: Buddhism, Jainism, and Advaita Vedanta.
The dualistic approach of binary epistemology, promoted by Aristotle, Descartes, AJ Ayer, etc., faces a host of limitations: it tends to be reductive and inflexible and often fosters false dualisms. In the process of using binary categories for complex phenomena, the substantial nuances and gradations are overlooked. It gives birth to rigid ways of thinking that do not entertain the possibility of any new perspective and often lead to misinterpretation or inappropriate application because the contextual nuances have been ignored.
These limitations are addressed by various epistemologies contained within the classical Indian philosophical traditions. The Madhyamaka, or middle path, of Buddhism is a philosophy eschewing extremes in favour of an interdependent view of reality, developed in such works as the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā by Nāgārjuna. The anekantavada, or pluralistic perspective, of Jainism is explained in such works as Tattvartha Sutra by Umasvati, which encourages the understanding that reality can be viewed from many perspectives and that the nature of reality and truth are complex and relative. Anirvachaniya, according to the Advaita Vedanta, through the Bhagavad Gita and explained by Adi Shankaracharya in Vivekachudamani, is that Brahman, the ultimate reality, is beyond the linguistic and conceptual categories, which point out its ineffable nature.
The present paper explores these traditions and provides a rationale for embracing complexity and contextuality, thereby offering valuable insights into contemporary epistemological debates