Nyaya

Nyaya ( Sanskrit: rule, method, analysis) is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. The Nyaya is made up predominantly in the fields of epistemology and logic apart, and put within this framework some standards determine the orthodox by most as non- orthodox systems in philosophical discourse accepted and have been applied. A representative of the Nyaya is called Naiyayika.

History and Development

As founder of the Nyaya is considered the legendary Rishi Gautama, who in the tradition under the name of " Akshapada " ( " Augenfüßler " ) is known. He is the author of " Nyaya Sutras ", which originated around the 2nd century BC.

The " Nyayabhashya " one of Vatsyayana Pakshilasvamin (ca. 5th century AD ) authored commentary on the " Nyaya Sutras ", first contains the typical for the logic of Indian philosophy five-membered syllogism:

Thesis ( pratijna ): On the mountain is fire. Justification ( hetu ): Because there is smoke to be seen. Example ( udaharana ): Where there is smoke, there is fire (as in the kitchen, unlike in the lake). Application ( apanaya ): It can be seen on the mountain smoke. Conclusion ( nigamana ): So is fire on the mountain.

In the 7th century AD is the " Nyayavarttika ", a commentary on the " Nyayabhashya " of Bharadwaja Uddyotakara, a reorientation towards theism instead. In the 10th century AD, the Nyaya is void in its classical form by totally absorbed in the sister system of Vaisheshika. This step was taken by Udayana, of a philosophy of synthesis represented in its theistic oriented works " Atmatattvaviveka " and " Nyayakusumanjali ", using which he wanted to bring both systems with the notion of a God ( " Ishvara " ) in line ( he dabbled in this framework to a proof of God, especially as a reaction against the Buddhist schools). Only in the course of the 12th century AD, the system was with the advent of the "new Nyaya " ( Sanskrit: Navya nyaya ) revived as an independent school - a development that on Gangesha Upadhyaya, the author of " Tattvacintamani " ( " Wishing stones the truth " ), goes back.

Philosophy

The Nyaya is traditionally " Debattierwissenschaft " ( Sanskrit: Tarka vidya ) or also called " talk science" ( vada vidya Sanskrit ). It revolves in this system is all about an analytical approach to knowledge and knowledge, but is always the Moksha - thoughts obliged. The thematic approach thus has a strong soteriological component that extends beyond the claim of pure knowledge discovery. The aim of the Nyaya is to investigate the necessary liberation from the rebirth cycle Samsara means precisely, and discuss what knowledge is a prerequisite for salvation. Metaphysics and ontology are the classical Nyaya more in the background, as these topics are already completely covered by the sister system of Vaisheshika - including the atomic theory and the principle of " Adrishta " in connection with the doctrine of karma, which recognizes the Nyaya system all.

In his epistemology and logic put the Nyaya own standards that have been accepted by most systems of Indian philosophy, especially the theory of the " means of knowledge " ( pramanas ) and the teaching of " 16 categories ( padarthas ) ".

Knowledge

All the knowledge of liberation ( Sanskrit: Apavarga ) is necessary to set four conditions ahead:

1 The subject, the " knower " ( Pramata )

2 The object of knowledge ( Prameya ), of which the Nyaya indicates a total of twelve. These are in detail:

3 Recognition ( pramiti ), and

4 The means of knowledge ( pramana ), of which the four Nyaya recognizes as valid:

Theory of categories

The Nyaya worked from sixteen categories ( padarthas ), describing the investigation valid knowledge in the course of discussion on the basis of successive stages. They sat down in philosophical debates largely as a widely accepted standard regulations by.

Four kinds of negation

The Nyaya distinguishes between four different forms of negation. The negation of statements is a part of epistemology and was described by the school separately.