Nyāya Philosophy – The Indian System of Logic and Reasoning
Nyāya Philosophy – The Indian System of Logic and Reasoning Nyāya is the backbone of Indian philosophical inquiry. Where Vedānta speaks of the Self and liberation, Nyāya shows how to think clearly, how to argue soundly, and how to distinguish truth from assumption. If Advaita is the final insight, Nyāya is the discipline that ensures the insight is genuine—not confusion dressed as realization. 1. What is Nyāya? Nyāya is one of the six classical Darśanas of Indian philosophy. The word Nyāya means method , rule , or more simply, logic . It is a system built not on mysticism or poetry, but on reason, observation, and structured analysis . Nyāya insists that truth must be demonstrated, not assumed. Its foundational text is the Nyāya Sūtra of Gautama (or Gautama Akṣapāda) . 2. Goal of Nyāya Nyāya is not logic for the sake of intellectual admiration. Its aim is practical and direct: To remove ignorance and suffering through right knowledge. False understanding leads to ...