Jaina Philosophy of Language

SR No.: 001601
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Language
File Size: 10 MB

Page 97

Jaina Philosophy of Word : (71) between the particular object comprehended by the word and its own class. On the basis of this similarity, we regard all the objects having similarity as denotation of one word.
The figure theory (ākṛtivada) of the Jainas has to some extent a resemblance with the picture theory of Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein in the beginning believed that the proposition is a picture of reality and the waves of sound, all stand to one another is that pictorial internal relation which holds between language and the word."31 He however, changed his view latter on, and brought the use theory (upayoga-siddhanta) which he thought to be more appropriate. According to the latter theory the meaning of the word is determined by the context and the usage of a word and not by its picture (image/figure) which is created (in our consciousness) when we hear it. Wittgenstein has emphasised the use theory in his latter work, 'Philosophical Investigations'. 32
In the Jaina concepts of ākṛtivada, we find the seeds of both the theories of Wittgenstein. Jainas, on the one hand by taking the meaning of the word as an image (figure), support the picture-theory and on the other hand in determining the meaning of the word, they admit the role of the use-context (Prayoga-sandarbha) or the accustomed tradition (Abhisamaya-paramparā), and thus they also support the use-theory of Wittgenstein. In my opinion, there is in fact no contradiction between the two. By hearing a word their does appear an image or figure in our mind but what type of figure and image will be produced by hearing which word, will be determined by usage and tradition. It seems that the Jaina view of ākṛtivāda regarding the denotation of the word is an attempt to synthesise the different prevalent theories of the day. This is the special feature of the Jaina philosophy of language.
Terms
Words and terms are made of letters or sometimes of a single letter. It should also be kept in mind that only that group of letters, which denotes or expresses something, is called word or term. The group of letters, which is not expressive or indicator of any meaning, does not come in the category of a word. The term; Kalama (pen) thus, is a meaningful word because it denotes the object; but say, makala' having does not mean anything, hence is not a word or term. According
no sense,