NavyaNyaya

NavyaNyaya is a school of Indian philosophy that emerged in eastern India, particularly Bengal, around the 11th century CE. It is an offshoot of the classical Nyaya system, which focuses on logic and epistemology. NavyaNyaya, meaning "New Nyaya," developed a sophisticated and highly formalized system of analysis and reasoning, primarily concerned with the study of knowledge and how it is acquired and validated.

The central innovation of NavyaNyaya lies in its development of a precise linguistic and conceptual framework known as the "NavyaNyaya vocabulary" or "NavyaNyaya semantics." This system employs a unique methodology of breaking down propositions into their constituent elements and then analyzing the relationships between these elements. Key concepts include the "pramana" (means of valid knowledge), "prameya" (objects of knowledge), and the intricate analysis of universals, particulars, and their properties.

NavyaNyaya philosophers, such as Gangeśa Upādhyāya and Raghunātha Śiromaṇi, aimed to eliminate ambiguity in philosophical discourse and provide a rigorous method for establishing truths. Their work is characterized by detailed logical distinctions, the use of technical terminology, and a focus on the nature of negation and qualification. The school's influence extended to various branches of Indian philosophy, including logic, grammar, and metaphysics, and its analytical techniques were highly influential in subsequent Indian intellectual history.