The Assertion of Possibilities in ´Indian-Jaina´ Logic

There are certain ideas in Indian-Jaina logic called Syadvada which is a compound word of two Sanskrit words: Syat (= may be) and Vada (= assertion) or the assertion of possibilities which seem to have close relevance to the concept of possibility theory. It is suggested that this Jaina theory, which originally was supposed to have been associated with probability theory may supply a convenient background on the foundations of contemporary possibility theory. A central feature of the Syadvada theory is a list of sevenfold predictions (Saptabhanginaya) composed of three basic elements.