NYĀYA PHILOSOPHY OF EMOTION

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to present the analysis by Gautama of “human emotions” expressed through body, speech and mind. In his Nyayasutra 1.1.2 he theorises this. According to him, emotions are the outcome of misconception, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, or ignorance. Emotions can be good and bad. But looking from the point of view of ultimate goal of life namely, liberation, even good emotions are nothing but binding factors and as long as these are entertained one cannot be out of the cycle of death and birth. Misunderstanding creates emotions; emotions contribute to the formation of attitudes, good or bad, which lead to good or bad acts which, in turn, leave behind impressions which are responsible for keeping a man in the cycle of death and birth. All human sufferings, therefore, are rooted in misunderstanding. One must, therefore, break this chain and that can be broken only by true cognition or knowledge of fact or truth. In my view, the Nyayasutra 1.1.2 is a comprehensive analysis of human emotion, behaviour, action and purpose and a philosophy of transformation of human life.