Nyaya & Mimaṃsa vs Aristotle: How Budhist Logic Surpassed Aristotle’s System (western logic)

Published on Nov 24, 2025 by Compute Labs

When we talk about “logic,” most schoolbooks begin their story in Greece with Aristotle. But, centuries before and after Aristotle, Indian thinkers built logical systems that were more comprehensive, more psychologically accurate, and closer to the scientific method we use today.

Let’s understand this comparison with simple examples

Aristotle’s Logic: Structure Over Reality

Time: 384–322 BCE
Place: Athens, Greece

Aristotle focused on validity of argument if the structure is correct, the conclusion must follow.

Example

All fruits have seeds.
Mango is a fruit.
Mango has seeds.

This logic powered:

Mathematics proofs
Computer science (Boolean logic)
Western scientific structure

Strength: Strong formal reasoning
Limitation: It doesn’t test truth of the premises or errors in perception.

If someone claims:

All swans are white
This system cannot detect false assumptions.

Indian Logic: Science of Truth, Knowledge & Error

Developed across Northern India (especially Bihar + Gangetic region)

Nyāya — Logic of Finding Truth

Time: 150–200 CE
Place: Bihar/Bengal region

Nyāya asks:

How do we know something is true?

It accepts 4 means of valid knowledge:

Perception → You see smoke
Inference → Smoke implies fire
Comparison → A zebra = like a horse
Testimony → Reliable expert/doctor

It uses a 5-step inference:

Step	Meaning	Example
Claim	Fire is on the hill	Pratijñā
Reason	There is smoke	Hetu
Rule example	Smoke from fire, like in kitchen	Udāharaṇa
Apply rule	Hill is similar case	Upanaya
Conclusion	Fire exists	Nigamana

Result: You get verified knowledge
not just logical shape.

Mīmāṁsā — Logic of Meaning & Interpretation

Time: 600–200 BCE
Place: North India

Focus:

How to interpret rules or sentences correctly
Remove contradictions through context and intention

Example for beginners
Signboard says:

No vehicles allowed near school

Mīmāṁsā checks intention:

A bicycle? → Vehicle → Not allowed
Ambulance? → Protect students → Allowed ✔
→ Apply purpose, not blind rule

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Aristotle	Nyāya	Mīmāṁsā
Time	4th century BCE	2nd century CE	6th–2nd century BCE
Main goal	Structural validity	Truth through evidence	Correct meaning
Handles perception errors	❌	✔	✔ (context conflict)
Real-life science use	Formal proofs	Hypothesis + testing	Law, grammar