________________
14
Darwin's Theory of Evolution : From Jaina Viewpoint
(The Paper presented in a National Symposium on Jaina Philosophy, Science and Scriptures, on
22nd 24th Oct. 2012 at Jasol, Rajasthan)
Rationale behind the Choice of the Subject
Scholars of Jainaology always claim that the tenets of Jainaism are closer to the modern scientific concepts than all the existing faiths. They present ample examples to prove their thesis. Six realities comprising the universe ; the Time not being an 'astikāya' reality but an inferential concept based on the changes found in different categories (dravyas); the concept of paramāņu and skandhas; presenting sabda as not being the quality of ākāśa but atomic in nature ; water being a combination of two gases ; the treatment of dharma and adharma as the principles of motion and rest ; the consciousness and emotions of the world of vegetation ; applying the concept of mind, emotions, knowledge, passions and spiritual progress to the world of fine-sensed tiryanchas - through these concepts, the scientific nature of Jainaism is generally observed and explained by modern science.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution in Nutshell
The biological studies take a great leap when Charles Darwin (1809-1882) presented the
“Theory of Evolution'. The main steps in his argument can be summarized as follows:
1. The globe has undergone and is continuing to undergo systemic transformation, which
means that life on earth must change in order to survive. 2. Nature provides an unlimited supply of unsolicited, fortuitous and hereditary novelties. 3. The fertility of nature leads to an unremitting struggle for existence. 4. In nutshell, we can say that the species which adapt with nature will survive, whereas less
fortunate biological species will perish. The change in nature is very slow. Human being
stands on the top of the evolved species.
Darwin's theory was based on the thinking and rethinking of his predecessors. His theory of evolution was explained and expounded after his thesis by many scientists like Huxley, Spencer, Heckel, Morgan, Whitehead and so many others.
Aim of the Paper
In this paper an attempt has been made to examine Darwin's theory and it's implications in the light of the philosophical views expressed in Jainaism.
[1] The Traditional Jaina Views : Apparently Against the Theory of Evolution
The history of the concept of the evolution of bio-species goes to the period of Greek thinkers in the western philosophy. But it was Charles Darwin who explained it systematically with the ample data collected by him. Two books written by him, viz. "The Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man' gave him world-wide acknowledgement and fame. In his second book, he opined
129
