Integral Humanism of the Nyaya Philosophy: Prof. Dr John Vattanky's Philosophical Understanding of the Human Being in the Society

Prof. John Vattanky is one of the few scholars in Indian philosophy who integrated the Western scientific method of research with the traditional Indian method of interpreting the Nyaya texts. He threw himself whole heartedly into the study of Navyanyaya and soon came to be recognized as one of the leading authorities in Navyanyaya.

Vattanky firmly believed that it is only in the absolute that human being is able to explain himself and the Nyaya thinkers do so when they discuss nature, the dimension and the properties of human knowledge. In fact, according to Nyaya a proper self-understanding of human being is not possible without the absolute. In other words, human being cannot understand himself properly except in the absolute; and so it follows inevitably that he is able to develop himself and realize his full destiny only in a relationship with the personal God, leading to a more humane social life and integral humanism.