Essay name: Nyaya-Vaisheshika (critical and historical study)
Author:
Aruna Rani
Affiliation: Panjab University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies Nyaya-Vaisheshika—A combination of two of the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy. The study also discusses in detail the authors of various works and critically analyzes key concepts of Nyaya-Vaisesika. Such Indian philosophies seek the direct realization of the Atman (the self) to attain ultimate freedom and bliss.
Chapter 2 - Historical Study of Nyaya system
1 (of 54)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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CHAPTER I
HISTORICAL STUDY OF NYAYA SYSTEM
1 The word 'Nyaya' popularly signifies 'right' or
'justice'. The Nyaya system is, therefore, the science of
right judgement or true reasoning. Technically the word
'Nyāya' signifies a syllogism (or a speech of five parts),
and Anvikṣild was called Nyāya sastra, when Nyāya
constituted its special topic. That the word 'Nyāya'
actually signifies a syllogism, is evident from an
3 observation quoted by Vätsyāyana that "Nyaya functions
neither with regard to things unknown nor with regard to
things that are definitely known, but it functions only
with regard to things that are doubtful."
Again,
Vatsyāyane defines Nyaya as an examination of objects by
evidences, but he takes evidences to signify a syllogism
which consists of 'proposition' based on verbal testimony,
a 'reason' based on inference, an 'exemple' based on
perception, an 'application' based on comparison, and a
'conclusion' based on all the previous four avayavas●
Visvanātha explains Nyāya-Svarupa as the essential form
of a syllogism which consists of its five parts, and
1. S.C.Vidyabhūṣaṇa, History of Indian Logic, Page 40.
2. Ibid.
3. Vatsyāyana, Nyāya Bhāṣya, 1.1.4″
4. Ibid.
5, vlsvenātha, naya Sutra Vetti, 1125; 1131;
1.1.38; l.1.40.
