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II
DEVELOPMENT OF THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE IN NYAYA AND JAINISM
The problem of knowledge has long aroused the interests of the thinkers all over the world.
In the history of modern philosophy, the systematic study of epistemology can be traced back to Locke. In his "Essay concerning human understanding", Locke attempted to deal with the problem of knowledge which culminated in Kant's "Critique of pure reason".
In Indian philosophy, the systematic treatment of the means of knowledge-Pramāņas-is to be found in Gautama's Nyāya sūtras. The new Nyāya school founded by Gangeśa discussed the theory of knowledge as an independent branch of study and after that epistemology came to be regarded in Indian thought as an indispensable part of philosophy. In Jaina canons which form the earliest Jaina literature, we find the various problems relating to knowledge. In fact, Jaina contribution to the problem of knowledge deserves attention because of its peculiar approach to the problem.
