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Epistemology of Jainas
The relation between subject and object presupposes the existence of both the factors. But, the Indian as well as the Western systems hold different views regarding it. Some of them hold subject as the only reality, while others resort to the object only. There are others who hold both of them as real or unreal. The second point of controversy is, whether the subject is related with the object directly or through a via media. Amongst the Indian systems epistemology follows metaphysics. First, they fix up a particular notion regarding the nature of universe and then explain the subject object relation in consonance with their metaphysical conceptions. Epistemologicaily, we can divide the Indian systems as follows:
Knowledge
Realism
Realism
Idealismo
Direct presentation
Representation
Nyāya mimäräsā Jalina
Sankhya
Sautrāntika
Vedānta Yogācāra T'he Existerice of Subject and Object :
Before discussing the relation between subject and object we have to ascertain the real nature of these two notions. As far as phenomenal appearance is concerned both of them appear distinctly. There are no two views regarding it. But, regarding their real nature there is a lot of controversy.
(1) The Advaita Vedānta holds that external objects do not exist independent of the subject. They are illusary projections
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