Dialectical terms (24): Illogical order (atītakāla)

Illogical order (atītakāla) is a fallacy which occurs when something which should be stated first in the order of priority is stated later or when there is an occasion for a point of defeat if one keeps silence in due time and applies it afterwards to some other point breaking the logical sequence.^[1]

The first part of the explanation given for atītakāla corresponds to a division of point of defeat (nigrahasthāna) called aprāptakāla of the Nyāyasūtra. There, it is being defined as the making of an alteration in the sequence of a syllogism.^[2] The common feature in both the cases is the illogical sequence of the members of syllogism and so they cannot convey any connected meaning. Taking account of this fact, Cakrapāṇi cites an example pertaining to syllogism in which the proposition which should be said first is stated last and the conclusion which should be said last is stated first.^[3] But it is to be noted that the second part of the definition given by Caraka vindicates that he does not restrict the alteration to the sequence of the members of syllogism but also to other points breaking logical sequence on occasions of points of defeat.