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A Series of Lessons on the Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India1238
of Buddhism—there is very little chance for this mistake, yet it has been
made by Western writers and students, the similarity of the names having
led them to believe that the two men were identical.
The term “Nyaya” is the Sanscrit word meaning “Analysis,” and is bestowed
upon this system by reason of the latter’s analytical trend and nature. In fact,
so much of the Nyaya teaching is devoted to the exposition of a system of
logic, and an enunciation of the methods whereby Truth may be ascertained
by logical process of examination and analysis, that many Western
writers have assumed that the system was a school of Logic, ignoring the
philosophical and metaphysical aspects of the teaching. The system, indeed,
is dual, partaking of the nature of a school of Logical analysis, and also of
philosophical and metaphysical reasoning and pronouncement of doctrine.
Let us examine it in its Logical phase first, and then in its philosophical aspect.
Gotama, the founder of Nyaya, was distinctly a logician, and careful
students of his work have accorded to him high rank in his class. By some he
has been called the Aristotle of India, and he developed a distinctive system
of Hindu Logic which compares very favourably with the Grecian systems.
Davies says of his school of logic: “The right methods of reasoning have been
discussed with as much subtlety as by any of the Western logicians.” Some
are inclined to the view that the Greek schools were indebted to the early
Hindu systems, which were afterward combined, purified and crystallized
by Gotama. Dutt says: “Comparing dates, we are disposed to say of this as
of many other sciences, the Hindus invented Logic, the Greeks perfected
it.” Gotama eliminated many of the non-essentials and elaborate details of
the previous Hindu logicians, and concentrated his attention upon forming
a logical system in which “right reasoning and correct inference” was the
keynote. Accordingly he devotes much time to the forming of scientific
syllogisms, or logical forms of arguments in their parts or propositions. The
Western syllogism consists of three parts, or propositions, viz., the two
Premises (or presumed conditions) which form the basis of the argument;
and the Conclusion, or the inference derived from the premises, and