Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001663
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J C Sikdar
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Physics
File Size: 23 MB

Page 172

Atomism
compounds that every element is constituted of atoms. They are "the indestructible and indivisible units of matter. The atoms of each chemical element are identical but different from atoms of other elements." So, according to Dalton's theory, the number of elementary particles is equal to the number of chemical elements including these produced artificially.
137
Much simpler and more attractive hypothesis was made by W. Prout in 1816 that "the atoms of all elements are built up of one atom, the atom of hydrogen, which would thus correspond to the prime matter, the ylem of the Greeks. Prout based his idea on the assumption that the atomic weights of all elements were whole numbers and, therefore, multiples of the atomic weight of hydrogen, which is given unit value. This assumption proved to be incorrect when stimulated by Prout's hypothesis; more accurate measurements of atomic weights were carried out and found in many cases to have fractional values, as for example 35.457 for chlorine, or 63.54 for copper. Prout's hypothesis was thus abandoned, but only temporarily, for it was revived in a modified form a century later. "2
Prout's atomic theory comes nearer to the Jaina conception of atom which is of one class only. "The discovery of radio activity was mainly responsible for the revival of Prout's theory in a modified form and it has brought the evidence that "the atom is destructible."
ANALYSIS OF CONCEPT OF PARAMĀŅU (ULTIMATE ATOM) FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE DEFINITION OF PUDGALA (MATTER)
Paramāṇupudgala is called only paramāņus or dravya
1. Atoms and the Universe, p. 28.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid., pp. 26-27.
4. Bhagavati Vyakhyāprajñapti, 14.4.513; 20.6.670.
5. Ibid., 20. 6. 670; 18. 6. 631.