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The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
The fundamental difference between the Jaina and Nyāya Vaiseșika systems of thought in regard to the motion of atom is this that the former maintains that the motion is the intriastic capacity in an ultimate atom, while the latter holds the view that the motion is not inherent in an ultimate atom but it is caused by Adrsta (unseen force) in the case of creative motion and it is generated by the effect of violent shaking of a body or impact in the case of non-creative motion. The Jaina view on oscillation and motion of paramāņu ultimate atom) is nearer to the atomic motion of the physical sciences.
As for example, "From X-Ray studies it is known that in crystalline solids the atoms are located at definite points in a lattice arrangement. The atoms vibrate about these lattice points, the amplitude of the vibration increasing with the rise in temperature. At the melting point, which occurs at a fixed temperature different for each crystalline substance, the amplitudes of the vibrations have become as large as to disturb the orderly arrangement of the atoms.”l
"The concept of oscillatory behaviour, or wave motion is a basic one which finds wide application in atomic physics.”2 “The wave aspect of elementary particles is possible their most fundamental characteristic, and it is not possible to reduce this concept further by forming any adequate picture of what substance, if any, is undergoing pulsation."
“The motion of atom of the physical sciences is demonstrated by the breaking up of atom, its smashing by the energy within itself and the emission of energy from it and the radiations from the radio active elements which consist of there distinct typesa-, B-and y-ravs. Radio active substai spontaneously either helium nuclei or electrons. These take place the radio active transformation in them. “When a nucleus is transformed into another, either by a-or B-decay, some 1. Physics, p. 261. 2. Atomic Physics, p. 12, 1. 4. 3. Ibid.
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