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MAHAVIRA ON INDIVIDUAL AND
HIS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
K. C. Sogani
Mahāvīra is one of those few towering personalities who fought for individual liberty in the context of social life. He revolted against the economic exploitation and social oppression of man and introduced vigorous innovations in the then existing social law and order. In a way, he was a social anarchist. In this way, Mahavira regarded individual and his social responsibility as the key to the progress of both the individual and society. He seems to be aware of the fact that the emphasis on merely individual progress without taking note of social responsibilities is derogatory both to the individual and society. Mahāvira was neither merely individualistic nor merely socialistic. In his attitude both individual and society are properly reconciled. This attitude of Mahāvīra is in consonance with his total approach to any problem that confronts him. He is averse to one-sidedness and therefore adheres to all-sided approach to a problem. His method is Anekāntic. Hence in Mahāvira's philosophy of life, if individual liberty is to be sought, social responsibilities can not be dispensed with
In order that an individual may acquire firm footing in life, Mahāvira advised the individual to be without any doubt in the various spheres of thought and in its multiple approaches. Doubt kills decision and without an act of decision individual does not muster courage to go forward. Now the question is : How to acquire the state of doubtlessness ? The answer can be given by saying that either the individual should stop thinking and resort to a sort of
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