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INTRODUCTION.
The Syad-våda, the Anekanta-vada, the Saptabhanga-naya are variously translated as the “Doctrine of Possibility ", " Theory of manifold Aspects'. Argument in seven-fold statements.". None of the translations in and by themselves give any sense and truly speaking, the translations are all defective and unsatis. factoy. They refer to a theory, poculiar to the Jaina Philosophers and it is impossible at the outset to state it with all its implications. The Jainas are realists in the sense that they believe in the reality of knowing subjects and of some substances independent of those enquring principles. It is claimed that the Syai - vada yields the true knowledge about things. This means that this doctrine may be considered to have a two-fol.i aspect. In its realistic aspect, the Syad-vāda presents the true nature of a thing under observation i. e., a factual picture of it, while in its psychological aspect, it indicates the true way of knowing the thing. This is, however, the barest possible description of the doctrine and a further approach towards it necessitates some preliminary clearing of the way to it.
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