Jainism as Metaphilosophy

SR No.: 001194
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S Gopalan
Publisher: Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1991
Total Pages: 92
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 5 MB

Page 49

Philosophy As Criticism - I
a distorted picture of Reality emerges. Hence is the need for considering various viewpoints in relation to rather than in contradistinction to, one another,
Sangrahanaya (The Class Point of View) 62 The distinction between the naya which has just been considered and the present one is not clear on the surface. But on a careful study, the analytical approach of Nayavāda in general and the advance made in analysis by the naya under consideration in particular, comes to the fore.
When reference is made to Naigamanaya, the focus is kept on the idea of an object (any object) as holding within it an integraled nelwork of the universal and the particular, - for instance, of 'treeness' (universal) and a specific tree (particular instance in which the universal finds expression). The Sangrahanaya revolves round the concept of classcharacteristic (the genus) rather than a particular kind (the species). Reference to the tree' rather than specifying it as a 'mango tree' or a ‘neem tree' represents the point of attention (required) in this naya. If ‘that urce' is used as a reference-point, - for instance, to indicate the 'locale' an cnquirer is not sure about - (to indicate that the house he is looking out for, is opposite that trcc'), the idea of 'that tree' is more relevant and contextually more mcaningful than that mango tree' or 'that neem trec', and to that extent, it oblitcrates (though for a time only) the two latter ones. This is Sangrahanaya pointed out as being concerned with the general or the class-character.
It is important to note that though the concern here is with the genus, the species is not totally negated;" for, though attention is paid on 'that urce' as a reference-point, it is not dcnicd that it is a mango trec' or 'ncem tree' or any other kind of trec (as the case may be) inasmuch as 'that tree' must be one of the kind.
The fallacy which is likely to be committed here may well be visualised. It occurs when undue emphasis is laid on the class-characteristic, - taking no account of the species which falls under the genus. This is referred to as sangrahābhāsa or the 'fallacy of class' by the Jaina philosophers.
. The Sankhya school and the Advaita-Vedanta school are criticised by the Jaina philosophers as committing this fallacy. The former is taken