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2005
INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM AND SCIENCE
By Editorial Team
Extension of Jain Heritage to the Western Environment will not be complete without a discussion on Jainism and it relationship with modern science. One can easily assume that a large segment of Jains in the west, especially the younger generation is quite well versed in modern Science. Explaining Jainism using the paradigm of science can attract our younger generation to appreciate Jainism. However, herein lies the real danger. In our enthusiasm to project Jainism in a positive light and relating its ancient traditions to modern times we tend to make unsubstantiated statements comparing or equating Jainism with science. Such unsubstantiated statements can hurt our heritage in the long run. There are many similarities between the methods of science and Jainism's logic and reasoning. However, these similarities do not necessarily make Jainism a scientific religion or vice-versa.
Science is a careful, disciplined and logical search for knowledge about any and all aspects of the universe, obtained by examination of the best available evidence and always subject to correction and improvement upon discovery of better evidence. The method of science is a pathway that involves several steps. Scientists themselves might organize the pathway in slightly different ways, but they would agree in general that the following steps explain fairly well the essence of a scientific method:
1. Observe some aspect of the universe. 2. Propose a tentative explanation, called a hypothesis that is consistent with
what you have observed. 3. Use the hypothesis to make predictions. 4. Test those predictions by experiments or further observations and modify
the hypothesis in the light of your results. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there are no discrepancies between theory and
experiment and/or observations.
When consistency is obtained the hypothesis becomes a theory and provides a coherent set of propositions which explain a class of phenomena. A theory is then a framework within which observations are explained and predictions are validated. Subsequently, if an evidence is found that violates or is not consistent with the theory, the theory is modified, corrected, restricted or in some cases rejected in favor of a newer theory
Most world religions easily distinguish them from Science because they are based primarily on faith, while Science is based upon evidence. Jainism, unlike many other
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