Course content:

Module 1: Foundational Concepts and Categories

1. Core Categories of Reality
   • Dravya (substance): Earth, water, fire, air, ether, space, time, soul, and mind
   • Guṇa (quality): Color, taste, smell, touch, number, size, separability, conjunction, disjunction, priority, posteriority, potentiality, actuality
   • Karma (action): The power to produce an effect
   • Samanya (universality): The general nature of a class of things
   • Viśeṣa (particularity): The specific difference between individuals of a class
   • Samavāya (inherence): The relation between a substance and its qualities or actions
   • Abhāva (non-existence): The absence of a thing in a place and time
2. The Tarka-saṅgraha of Annambhaṭṭa
   • A deep dive into Annambhaṭṭa’s commentary on the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika system
   • Analysis of his explanations and arguments on the core categories

Module 2: The Evolution of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika

1. Navya-Nyāya
   • The rise of Navya-Nyāya and its impact on Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika
   • Refinements in logical analysis and argumentation
   • The development of new techniques for defining and refuting
2. The Role of Definition and Refutation
   • The importance of precise definitions in philosophical analysis
   • The process of creating faultless definitions
   • Techniques for refuting erroneous arguments and claims

Module 3: Applications of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika

1. Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika and Science
   • The compatibility of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika with scientific inquiry
   • Applying Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika to understand scientific concepts and theories
2. Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika and Ethics
   • Ethical implications of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika’s understanding of the self and the world
   • The role of reason and morality in human life

Module 4: Evaluation of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika Ontology

1. The Empirical Approach
   • The Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika emphasis on empirical evidence and rational inquiry
   • Comparing the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika approach to other philosophical systems
2. Strengths and Limitations
   • Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika ontological framework
   • Evaluating its relevance in contemporary philosophical discussions