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Quick Facts
- Flourished:
- 5th century ad
- Flourished:
- c.401 - c.500
- Notable Works:
- āAbhidharmakoshaā
- Notable Family Members:
- brother Asaį¹ ga
- Subjects Of Study:
- Buddhism
- logic
- syllogistic
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Vasubandhu
Indian Buddhist philosopher
Vasubandhu (flourished 5th century ad) was an Indian Buddhist philosopher and logician, younger brother of the philosopher Asaį¹ ga. His conversion from the SarvÄstivÄda to the MahÄyÄna Buddhist tradition is attributed to Asaį¹ ga. Vasubandhu refined classical Indian syllogistic logic by distinguishing the procedure for reaching inferences in formal debate (five steps) from the method in personal thought (three steps). He wrote several ÅÄstras (ātreatisesā) holding that all seemingly external objects are only mental representations, and he is also reputed to be the author of the AbhidharmakoÅa, a systematization of SarvÄstivÄda doctrine written before his conversion.
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