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KUMAR THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
Subject, Object and Knowledge
In the epistemological discussion the relationship among subject, object and knowledge are quite considerable. Indian epistemologists have rather different views about that. The conception of their views may be pointed out in short as follows 15:
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The Advaita Vedantins hold that external objects do not exist independently from its subject. They are illusory projections subsisting in the latter. The subject has a real existence while the object has phenomenal existence.
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The Yogacara maintains that the object does not exist at all, the subject itself appears in two forms as subject and object. On the other hand, the Madhyamika holds that the subject and the object are phenomenal.
The Realistic systems, on the other hand, hold independent and a real existence of both the subject and the object. At the same time, they also hold a divergent view regarding their actual nature. For example, in view of Buddhist scholars the object is absolutely particular without any mixture of generality which is purely subjective. It is general and this is in accordance with Samkhya. Contrary to that view, others supposed that it is a combination of both.
The Jainas hold that object exists independent of the subject and possesses the characteristic of generality as well as particularity relatively. They hold that the aspects of generality and particularity are real and objective. Both exist in each and every object.
Illumination and perception of subject are meant for knowledge of that subject. They are defined by different modes of processing viz. Sannikarṣa (physical grasping or contact perception of the sense organs with their objects); antaḥakaraṇa sambandhana (intercourse between the self and its qualities and the manasa (mind), the internal sense organ; Tādātmyikaranṇa or identification or co-essentiality and it is operated samyoga (conjuction); Samyuktabhinnatātādātmya (acquired perception-presentative and representative processes mixed up together
etc). 16
We have different theories for understanding the process of
15. Ibid., pp. 171-72.
16. Jadunath Sinha: Indian Psychology. Vol. I, Motilal Banarasidas, 2nd Edn.. 1986, pp. 73-74, 83, 86-87.
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