________________
ARHAT VACANA
Kundakunda Janapitha, Indorer
Vol. - 24, Issue-1, January - March, 2012, 75-81 Logical Analysis of ‘Minimum’ and ‘Maximum' in Jainism
Samani Chaitypragya *
Abstract The present study aims at defining, describing and logically analysing the concept of minimum and maximum in jainism. It hypothises that the concept of minimum and maximum is relative. Through method of logical analysis of the basic four questions related to the concept minimum and maximum as described in Jaina texts and various illustrations it concludes that the concept of minimum and maximum in jaina philosophy is relative.
Introduction
The concept of infinity itself is riddled with paradoxes according to Moore. They are as follows: The paradoxes of infinitely small, the paradoxes of infinitely big, the paradoxes of one and many, the paradoxes of thought about infinite. All these paradoxes of infinite occur if we consider infinitely small and big as absolute. Jaina theory of relativity predominantly plays its key role in almost all the aspects of its philosophy. It is also true in the case of Jaina Mathematics. Jaina canons have a detailed theory of Arithmatics and Computations. The unique concept of Jaina mathematics is that neither minimum nor maximum is zero in Jainism. In fact the concept of zero does not exist in Jainism. The number or counting starts from one and not from two. The minimum number technically called jaganya sankhyā is valued as two and the maximum technically called as ananta is or infinte. The present study is an effort to study and search the logical basis for these contentions. It deals with four basic problems of number theory in Jainism as follows:
1. Why minimum counting starts from 2 ? 2. Why "O" is not a number? 3. Can infinte be classified? 4. Is Absolute infinte possible?
Before solving the above problems, let us have a glimpse of Jaina theory of numbers in brief.
The numbers in Jainism are divided into three categories : 1. sankhyāta, (Numerable) 2. asankhyāta, (Innumerable) 3. ananta, (Infinte)
The numerable numbers are again divded into three catogories : minimum, intermediate and maximum. The innumerable numbers are also divded into three subclasses : low-grade, self-raised and innumerable- innumerable. Each of the * Assistant Professor, Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun-341306 Rajasthan
