Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t13.41

v1.c7.s7.t13.41

There are substantial similarities between Nyaya faction’s pañca-avayava-vākya and general formal logic syllogism. Although there are five parts in this syllogism, among which only three components play the major roles in the practical reasoning, namely minor terms, middle terms and major terms. In the above example of pañca-avayava-vākya containing sādharmya, the “sound” is a minor term, “impermanent” is a major term, and ”produced” is a middle term. Reasoning process is through the middle term to connect the minor term with the major term. As “all those produced matters are impermanent” is a universally acknowledged fact, therefore just say “the sound is produced” and the conclusion could be launched “sound is impermanent”.