Naiyayika
Image of the 10th century CE "Naiyāyika" Udayanacharya | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
| Synonym | Logician |
Occupation type | Philosopher |
| Specialty |
|
| Description | |
| Competencies | Logical reasonings, Sanskrit literature |
Education required | Master of Philosophy with specialisation in Nyaya Sutras |
Fields of employment | Department of philosophy in universities, Sanskrit universities and Vedic learning institutes |
Related jobs | Professor, Philosopher and Logician |
Naiyayika (Sanskrit: नैयायिक , Romanised: Naiyāyika) is referred to a follower of the Nyāya school of the Indian philosophy founded by the Vedic sage Akshapada Gautama. Its plural form is Naiyayikas. The scholar who study and specialises in the field of Nyaya Shastra is known as Naiyayika. The Naiyayikas are also called as logicians.
The main occupations of the Naiyayikas are the investigations of the truth and acquiring correct knowledge through the process of logical reasonings. They accept the validity of the authority of the Vedas. They harmonise their own independent thoughts and concepts with that of the Vedas.
According to Naiyayikas, there are sixteen categories to attain the perfection of correct knowledges. These sixteen categories are pramāṇa, prameya, saṃśaya, prayojana, dṛṣṭānta, siddhānta, avayava, tarka, nirnaya, vāda, jalpa, vitaṇḍā, hetvābhāsa, chhala, jāti, nigrahasthāna. The Naiyayikas consider four types of proof for valid means of knowledge. These four types of proof are.
- pratyakṣa
- anumāna
- upamāna
- śabda