Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001180
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 328
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 15 MB

Page 124

CHAPTER V
MATTER
Does matter exist? It is a very complicated problem in the sphere of philosophy. The Idealists maintain that the universe is a spiritual reality. Matter does not enjoy any : separate existence independent of spirit or thought. The Realists do not agree with this view. They explicitly say that the material reality is absolutely independent of the spiritual reality. It is as real as thought itself. Reality of Matter :
Jainism, being a school of Realism, certainly believes in an independent and separate existence of matter. When the Idealist perceives various effects of material elements, he entertains a doubt whether material elements (bhūtas) exist or not. The Jaina thinkers maintain that the doubt about a nonexistent object is totally unjustifiable, as in the case of skyflower and hare-horn where non-existence is certain. The point is that our doubt is justifiable in the case of existent objects only. We entertain no doubt in regard to an absolutely nonexistent object. The doubt is only possible in the case of existent objects like tree and man (sthāņu and puruşa). If we raise any doubt as regards a non-existent object, we will have to raise a doubt in the case of sky-flower and hare-horn also.
To establish the existence of self, we say that 'I think therefore I am' or 'I doubt therefore I exist.' Similarly, what is the harm if we say that 'I doubt about the existence of external objects therefore they exist' or 'all things which are distinctly perceived are true'. As Descartes, the father of modern (Western) philosophy says: 'I think therefore I am' -