Aksapada Gautama

The Nyāya Sūtras is a foundational text of the Nyāya school of Hindu philosophy, attributed to Akṣapāda Gautama. Its composition date is uncertain, with scholarly estimates ranging from the 6th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. The text, comprising 528 aphoristic sutras, is structured into five books and focuses on logic, epistemology, and metaphysics. It proposes sixteen categories of knowledge as means to attain valid knowledge and liberation. The Nyāya school's emphasis on empirical evidence and logical reasoning influenced many other Indian philosophical traditions, including Buddhism. Key concepts include the four means of valid knowledge (perception, inference, comparison, and testimony), the theory of doubt, and the nature of causality. Despite its philosophical focus, it is noted for its lack of emphasis on Vedic rituals. Later commentaries, such as those by Vātsyāyana and Udayana, further expounded upon its teachings.