Analysis of Perceptual Illusion

Sensory (perceptual) illusion is said to be ‘promiscuous’ in Nyāya. Promiscuity of awareness here means that it deals with two ‘objects’ at the same time. ‘Illusion’ is used for cases where something is seen but looks to be other than it is or is ‘taken’ to be. The first section of this chapter describes seeing and seeing-as. The second section considers two Buddhist analyses of illusion. The third section explores the Advaita view of the inexplicability of the appearance. The fourth section considers the Prābhākara view of no-illusion. The fifth section expounds the Nyāya analysis of illusion, which is called the ‘misplacement’ theory. The sixth section explains fictions and fantasies. The last section compares sense-datum and direct realism.