The Nyaya Sutras : A New Commentary On An Old Text

Book Title: Nyaya Sutras: A New Perspective
Author: Prof. Daya Krishna
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Language: English
Edition: 2004
ISBN: 9788170308003
Pages: 308
Cover: Hardcover
Dimensions: 22.5 cm x 14.5 cm
Weight: 480 gm

About the Book

Prof. Daya Krishna's work on the Nyaya Sutras offers a groundbreaking perspective on India's philosophical traditions. The book delves into the ancient commentarial tradition and develops a fresh methodology for understanding the Nyaya Sutras. This work challenges the conventional understanding of Indian philosophy by exploring the texts' deep engagement with philosophical problems that go beyond their traditional schools, offering insights into the original philosophical issues they sought to address.

The study incorporates the commentaries of Vatsyayana, Uddyotakara, Vacaspati Misra, Udayana, and others, highlighting their contributions and the philosophical debates they engaged in. The author brings forward the notion that these thinkers, although traditionally categorized within the Nyaya school, should be recognized for their independent philosophical insights, making their ideas relevant to contemporary philosophical discourse.

The work aims to free these ancient texts from the limitations imposed by their traditional categorization and presents them as part of a broader, living philosophical tradition that continues to resonate today. The book challenges the myth of an "unbroken continuity" in Indian philosophy and advocates for a more dynamic and interactive understanding of philosophical evolution in India, focusing on the intellectual exchanges between different schools of thought.

Prof. Krishna’s approach calls for a reinterpretation of the Nyaya Sutras, showing them as texts embedded in historical context and philosophical debate, rather than as timeless, unchanging truths. This fresh perspective encourages readers to question longstanding assumptions and invites them to see Indian philosophy as a continuously evolving field, shaped by ongoing intellectual engagement and debate.

This work also critiques the traditional, static view of Indian philosophy and opens the door to rethinking the development of philosophical ideas in the subcontinent, especially through the lens of Nyaya thought.