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authority. On the other side we see that "in the intellectual world, toleration is the disposition to fight opinion only with opinion". Relativism by contrast, chips away at our right to disapprove of what anybody says.
Fourth, this paper simply provides a background, in historical or philosophical perspective, to make the reader think or reflect rather than becoming a slave of simplistic Relativism or of equally simplistic Absolutism. Irrespective of our temperament, can we at least know where we are and what we can say on the other side? Of course, while referring the books, records and facts as mentioned in standard books and encyclopedias I have found that the war or the battle has emotions run high. This is more so in the West. In the East, fortunately it is not the intellect but the faith being at the centre, compromise is never an ego or prestige issue.
Fifth, referring to the Indian philosophy, I have found much to be learnt, not only by students of philosophy but even by the scholars of the West. In Indian philosophy, instead of attacking the Absolutism, we find the Relativists arguing that the senses can give only relative knowledge. Therefore Absolute propositions are not recognized by Jain logic. What we find that the issue between the two is not one opposite to other but one and then the other. In other words, every common man in day-to-day worldly affairs has knowledge which is relativistic. There is always a possibility of relative with reference to Absolute. Therefore the initial stage is relative knowledge through senses and then by developing higher faculties of mind and soul one can realize the Absolute Truth. This is the reason why in my subtitle of the essay I have written 'versus/and'. In west it may be versus but in Indian philosophy if we study the issue with 'and', things will be more transparent.
Sixth, we also take a serious note at the Gandhi's Truth which is always with Non-violence. Truth & non-violence always go together. I feel Gandhi's truth is something that offers a solution to world peace and mutual co-existence. It provides a ground for religious tolerance and political generosity. I am sure, the reader will find, in Gandhi's Truth, this essay a meaningful one.
Finally, at the end, having gone through a glimpse, if not at the issue in full details, we do conclude that the sides have merit, and 'neither has exclusive ownership of truth.' To put Francis Bacon's thought in simple words, the talks, the words, the definitions and explanations with which the learned men have been accustomed to protect and in some way liberate themselves, do violence to the understanding, and confuse everything; 'and betray men into countless empty disputes and fictions."
Under the situation, what is important is that whichever side we embrace, we should know where we stand and what is to be said for our oppo
nents.
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| SR No. | 007005 |
| Book Title | World of Philosophy |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave |
| Publisher | Shanti Prakashan |
| Publication Year | 2011 |
| Total Pages | 1002 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 30 MB |