Which of the following steps of inference corresponds to application (upanaya) according to Classical Indian Logicians?

Correct option is A

In Classical Indian logic, particularly as outlined in the Nyaya school of philosophy, inference (anumāna) consists of five steps:
1. Pratijña (Proposition): The statement to be proved, e.g., "The hill has fire."
2. Hetu (Reason): The reason supporting the proposition, e.g., "Because it has smoke."
3. Udāharaṇa (Example): A universal rule with an example, e.g., "Whatever has smoke has fire, like an oven."
4. Upanaya (Application): Application of the universal rule to the specific instance, e.g., "This hill has smoke which is invariably associated with fire."
5. Nigamana (Conclusion): The final assertion, e.g., "Therefore, the hill has fire."
Information Booster · Upanaya is the fourth step in the Nyaya inference process and emphasizes connecting general knowledge to a specific instance.
· The five-step inference structure (Nyaya syllogism) is more detailed than the Western syllogism, ensuring clarity in reasoning.
· Upanaya is critical because it demonstrates how the general rule applies to the observed case, making the inference logical and systematic.
· Indian logic places great importance on examples (udāharaṇa) and applications (upanaya) to ground reasoning in experience.