Tetralemma

The tetralemma is a figure that features prominently in the classical logic of the Greeks. It states that with reference to any a logical proposition X, there are four possibilities:

X (affirmation)

$\neg X$ (negation)

$X \land \neg X$ (both) equiv.

$\neg (X \lor \neg X)$ (neither)

Catuskoti: a cross-cultural correlate

A similar tradition 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.

See also

• Paraconsistent logic
• Prasangika
• Two-truths doctrine

External links

• Wiktionary definition of tetralemma
• Twelve links blog Notes on the tetralemma