Question

'Upanaya' in Indian 'Nyaya Syllogism' corresponds to which of the following in Aristotelian Syllogism?
1. Major premise
2. Minor premise
3. Conclusion
4. Both major and minor premises

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Minor premise

Nyaya Syllogism:

• It is one of the six systems of Indian philosophy
• Gautama is the main proponent of Naya philosophy
• It is a philosophy of atomistic pluralism and logical realism.
• The four Pramanas of Naya philosophy is perception, inference, analogical reasoning, and testimony.
• There are five members of Naya syllogism. These are as follows-

Nyaya Syllogism	Description	Example (Typical Aristotelian syllogism)
Pratigya	The logical statement which is to be proved	This hill has fire
Hetu	The reason for the establishment of a proposition	Because it has smoke
Udaharana	The universal concomitance together with an example	Whatever has smoke has fire e.g. an oven
​Upanaya	The application of universal concomitance to the present case	This hill has smoke which is invariably associated with fire
Nigmana	The conclusion is drawn from the preceding proposition	Therefore this hill has fire

 

Aristotelian Syllogism:

• There are three propositions in the Aristotelian syllogism.
  • Sadhya or the major: All things which have smoke have fire
  • Paksa or the minor: This hill has smoke
  • Hetu or the middle: Therefore, this hill has fire
• If we leave out the first two members of the Nyaya syllogism, we find that it resembles the Aristotelian syllogism. 
• The second proposition of Aristotelian syllogism coincides with the fourth proposition of Nyaya Syllogism.

Therefore, 'Upanaya' in Indian 'Nyaya Syllogism' corresponds to which of the Paksa or the minor in Aristotelian Syllogism.