Gems of Jainism

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

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Gems of Jainism
Chatterjee says that inspite of some similirity between the pragmatism and Jainism, it should be noted that, “Jains are realists, but the pragmatists have distinct idealistic bias. According to the Jainas, the different judgement about object, are not simply different subjective ideas of the object, but they reveal the different real aspects of the object. The Jainas would accept, therefore, a realistic view of truth which is rejected by all thorough going pragmatists."12 The Jain Syādavāda is sometimes compared to the Western theory of relativity : idealistic and realistic. The idealistic is represented by Protagoros, Berkeley, Schiller etc., and the realistic is represented by Whitehead or Boodin." If at all, the Jaina is to be called relativist, he must be understood to be the realistic type.” 13
There is also a great degree of misunderstanding due to the term 'Syāt' which means 'somehow', or perhaps', or ‘may be some thinkers form a sort of sceptic or agnostic view about the theory. It is not the uncertainty of a judgement, but its conditional or relative character, that is expressed by the addition of the qualifying participle “Syāt.... There is, therefore, no room for scepticism."#4
Prof. M. L. Mehta also gives a detailed refutation to some objections against Syādavāda in his 'Outline of Jana Philosophy'. He discusses the objections regarding affirmation and negation, regarding locus and identity, regarding identitiy and difference etc. and says that "there is no logical justification for the emergence of doubt in a matter which has been definitely established.”ls
The positive and appreciative side of the theory of Syādavāda could be realised through the words of some of the great philosophers and thinkers, both of East and West. We find Anékāntavād even in Einstein's explanation as well as in Hegal : "All nature is a reconciliation of opposites” Dr. S. Radhakrishnan said, ... “but he who follows the Jaina concept adopt that kind of cultural regimentation". "Mahatma Gandhi is reported to have once said that he had a very high regard for the doctrine of Syādavāda, and that he practised it in his life.” Jawaharlal Nehru said, “We have to realise that truth is many sided and it is not a monopoly of any group formation." Dr. Rajendraprasad, the first President of