Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t2.13

v1.c7.s7.t2.13

The Nyaya thinks that a right form of inference or argument consists of five parts: proposition (*pratijna*), cause (*hetu*), illustration (*udaharana*), application (*upanaya*) and conclusion (*nigamana*). This is usually called as “Five-Part Syllogism”. According to the *Nyāya Sutra Bhāshya* by Vatsyayana (about 4ᵗʰ century CE), an application of this five-part syllogism can be as follows: Proposition: Sound is non-eternal. Cause: Because it is created. Illustration (positive): Whatever is created is non-eternal, as is a plate or dish. Application: So is sound, it is created. Conclusion: Therefore sound is non-eternal. Above is an example of positive illustration (*sadharma*) and below is an example of negative illustration (*vidharma*): Proposition: Sound is non-eternal. Cause: Because it is created. Illustration (negative): Whatever is not created is eternal, as is Atman. Application: Sound is not so and it is created. Conclusion: Therefore sound is non-eternal.