Nyāya view of valid knowledge

Abstract

The Nyāya school of Indian philosophy provides a profound analysis of valid knowledge (pramāṇa), focusing on the intricate relationship between cognition and reality. This paper explores Nyāya perspectives on the validity of knowledge, specifically through the views of key philosophers like Gautama, Vātsyāyana, and Uddyotakara. The discourse delves into the distinction between valid and invalid knowledge, the role of inference in establishing knowledge validity, and the exclusion of doubt and error from valid cognition. The Nyāya approach underscores the significance of non-deviation (avyabhicāra) and definiteness in knowledge, offering a unique philosophical framework for understanding the nature of truth and reality.