Nyaya Logic and Analytic Philosophy: Bridging Classical and Modern Traditions

This paper examines the intellectual parallels and points of convergence between the classical Indian Nyaya school of logic and the Western tradition of analytic philosophy. Although separated by vast historical periods and distinct cultural milieus, both traditions share a profound commitment to clarity of argument, linguistic precision, and epistemological rigor. The Nyaya system, with its elaborate theory of inference (anumana), sources of valid knowledge (pramaṇa), and detailed treatment of error (hetvabhasa), anticipates many of the central concerns of modern analytic philosophy, including the nature of reference, propositional structure, justification, and truth. Through a comparative analysis of Nyaya thinkers such as Gautama, Vatsyayana, and Udayana, alongside key figures of analytic philosophy Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein this study seeks to illuminate a shared philosophical temperament grounded in logical analysis and linguistic investigation. By examining Nyaya’s five-member syllogism, its theory of meaning (sabda-artha-sambandha), and its correspondence model of truth, the paper highlights how classical Indian logic embodies principles analogous to the Fregean concern for sense and reference and the Wittgensteinian quest for linguistic clarity. Methodologically, this research adopts a comparative philosophical framework, not to equate distinct systems but to reveal how each offers complementary insights into the nature of rational inquiry. The paper argues that Nyaya thought represents a systematic and empirically grounded model of reasoning that can enrich contemporary debates on epistemic justification, linguistic meaning, and analytic methodology. Ultimately, the study concludes that bridging these traditions fosters a more inclusive and pluralistic conception of global philosophy one that unites the analytical precision of the West with the metaphysical and ethical depth of the Indian tradition, thereby advancing a truly cross-cultural dialogue in the pursuit of truth and rational understanding.