Applied Philosophy of Anekanta

Author(s): Shashiprajna Samni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

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adds “the more viewpoints the better'. Anekāntvada views reality including things, words, language, meaning, reality, etc.as pluralistie, many-sided or expressing itself in many forms. In other words, whatever one might say about reality, is relative. That is why, the doctrine of Jainism may aptly be called ‘maybeism' or 'perhapsism'. Anekānta or the theory of manifoldness and indeterminateness is 'the ontological assumption that any entity is at once enduring and undergoing changes that is, both constant and inevitable’ (Britannica Online Encyclopedia). Padmarajiah (1986) in A Comparative Study of the 'Jaina Theories of Reality and Knowledge' points out : 'This comprehensive theory of manifoldness is ontology or a theory of reality, as well as an epistemology or a theory of knowledge. The anekānta postulates a reality, which is immensely complex or manifold. Correspondingly, the anekānta epistemology postulates a theory of manifold methods of analysis (nāyavāda) and synthesis (syadvāda) by means of which the complex reality can be comprehended by the mind' (pp, 123-124).
It has one basic principle: co-existence, not only in pairs but also as opposing pairs. It is in the world of nature and mutual co-existence too is the Law of Nature. If there is birth, there is death; if there is light, there is darkness. If there is war, there is peace; if there is happiness, there is sadness; if there is wisdom, there is ignorance. If there is good, there is bad. That seems to be the law of nature and anekānta is an expression of that principle.
Proper understanding of the principle of anekānta or the co-existence of mutually opposing groups helps one to avoid -conflicts and create a better society. There lies its application. Although Indian knowledge systems have historically influenced many Western systems like Romanticism and Postmodernism, the impact has not been fully acknowledged. But now, as in many other fields like economy, computer technology, medicine, yoga, etc., the West is being