5 Membered Syllogism

The Indian Nyaya System of Logic follows a five membered syllogism to reach a conclusion. The beauty of the five membered syllogism is that all the four pramanas or means of knowing are utilized in reaching the conclusion thereby guaranteeing that the conclusion reached is valid. It can be understood as follows:

1. There is Fire on the Hill ( Testimony) (Proposition)
2. Because there is Smoke (Perception) ( Reason adduced of the Proposition)
3. Wherever there is Smoke, there is Fire ( Analogy) (Example)
4. There is Smoke (Inference) (Subsumptive Correlative)
5. Hence, there is Fire (Conclusion)