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Jaina Relativism (Anekāntavāda) and Theory of Relativity
to experimentation. The subatomic phenomena has forced scientists about the limit of their experimentation as they observe that when they try to produce finer fundamental particles by highly energised collisions, they obtain some what grosser particles due to mass-energy interchange. Relativity concept has helped this philosophisation of science. Moreover, even the scientific aspects of the theory have been able to confirm and expand the theory of Anekantavāda from a purely speculative mental construct to its applicability in many real physical phenomena experimentally and mathematically for fuller understanding them, It has also confirmed the fact of limitation in acquiring complete knowledge independently as is connoted by Anekantavāda, thus advising scientists to go beyond science for learning completely about reality.
The relativity theory consists of combination of two laws: (a) law of equivalence and co-variance and (ii) law of maximalness and constancy of velocity of light. Table III gives comparative details about the concepts and statements by this author. It is seen that while the Jainas agree to the law of equivalence for uniform systems and, there fore, concept of relative aspects giving it a philosophical and logistic support, they might not be in a position to agree to the maximalness and constancy of velocity of light on canonical grounds on which the relativity theory is based, Moreover, the constancy of light has also been suggested to be violated in case of many paranormal phenomena and HubbleHarlikar theory. However, the velocity of light is a physically measurable phenomena and non-agreement with it leads to many other variances of Jainas on physical issues based on it as shown in the table.
In fact, this Einstein combination two laws has led not only to explain the above phenomena but have forced the scientific community to modify their ideas regarding absolute truth or reality, space, time, matter, simultaneity and gravitation. These have all been turned into relative phenomena in the world. This has led to abandon the ether and gravitational field concept which were equated with the Jaina concept of medium of motion and rest as the theory could explain all the phenomena even without them*. However, normal 3-d space has been extended to 4d space time continuum having a non-traditional geometry reducing the concept of time as an independent reality into its becoming an inseparable
Jain Education International
91
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| SR No. | 014009 |
| Book Title | Multidimensional Application of Anekantavada |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey, Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar |
| Publisher | Parshwanath Vidyapith |
| Publication Year | 1999 |
| Total Pages | 552 |
| Language | English, Hindi |
| Classification | Seminar & Articles |
| File Size | 9 MB |