Jain Philosophy

SR No.: 002014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti
Publication Year: 1924
Total Pages: 406
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 17 MB

Page 367

•
338
rhad, and, I hoge, by further contributions in the line of study by the distinguished gentleman who has favoured us with the paper to-day. It would be beyond my power to go into a minute discussion of the various pointe brought forward, which are matters only for scholars in a very special fine. The most we can do is to take up a point here and there, and make a few observatio às with a view of suggesting a point for further elucida tion, either now or on another occasion, by our learned lecturerer. From that standpoint I should like to put forward one or two matters for inquiry. The relation of the Jain philosophy to the early Greek philosophy suggested several questions. Mr. Gandhi has mentioned Thales. Thales, looking out on the surface of creation, throught he detected the active principle of the universe in moisture. He was followed by another distinguished philosopher. who thought that water might be a very active force in nature, but that it could not be brought into activity without something which he could himself feel; and what he felt in his own person as being the central force was air. Then came Diogenes of Appollonia, who carried the speculation a step further, and said there must be something behind the air; there must be a Soul to give it this particular characteristic, and so he imagined primum mobile, or first source of being in action, the Soul of the Universe. There are views natural enough' in the world of philosophy in its early stages. I should have been pleased if Mr. Gandhi had told us how far the earlier speculations of the Jain