Nyaya
Can one attain absolute truth through Nyaya?
According to Nyaya, the path to truth is through logic and epistemology. This school of thought believes that knowledge can be obtained through valid reasoning and reliable sources of knowledge. Therefore, one may wonder if it is possible to attain absolute truth through Nyaya.
The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. Nyaya teaches that there are four pramanas or means of valid knowledge - perception, inference, comparison, and testimony. These pramanas are considered reliable sources of knowledge and can lead to the attainment of truth.
Perception, the first pramana, is the direct awareness of an object through the senses. It is believed that perception can lead to absolute truth as it provides direct knowledge of the object. However, perception is limited to what can be perceived through the senses, and it can be influenced by various factors such as personal biases and limitations of the senses.
The second pramana, inference, is the process of arriving at a conclusion based on a premise. Nyaya believes that inference can lead to absolute truth if it follows a valid logical structure and is based on reliable premises. However, there is always a possibility of error in inference, and the conclusion may not always be absolute truth.
Comparison, the third pramana, is the process of determining similarities and differences between two or more objects. It is believed that through comparison, one can attain absolute truth by understanding the nature of an object. However, comparison is limited to what can be observed and may not provide a complete understanding of the object.
The final pramana, testimony, refers to knowledge obtained through the words of a reliable source. Nyaya teaches that testimony can lead to absolute truth if the source is trustworthy and has first-hand knowledge of the subject. However, there is always a possibility of error in testimony, and it may not always lead to absolute truth.
In conclusion, Nyaya teaches that absolute truth can be attained through valid reasoning and reliable sources of knowledge. However, there are limitations to each pramana, and there is always a possibility of error. Therefore, while Nyaya provides a logical and systematic approach to attaining truth, it is ultimately up to the individual to critically analyze and evaluate the information obtained through these pramanas to determine its validity and attain absolute truth.