Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Nagrajmuni
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 31

SYADWAD & THEORY OF RELATIVITY
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Einstein, who is considered unanimously as one of the greatest intellectuals of the world In 1905, Einstein wrote an article entitled "Special Theory of Relativity" which was published in the German Year Book of Physics This article created a stir in the scientific world After 1916, he enlarged his theory which came to be called "General Theory of Relativity" In 1921, he was awarded the 'Nobel Prize for Physics' for his great contribution In fact, Einsten's Relativity was like a tidal wave in the calm waters of science. It hit some of the very fundamental dogmas of science and established a new norm As soon as Relativity came into vogue, the Law of Gravitation which was all in all from the days of Newton, was de-throned Existence of Ether could be saved only by an hair-breadth escape and the concepts of Space and Time took a new form. It met with a lot of opposition in the beginning, but ultimately, because of its mathematical soundness, the Theory of Relativity got universal acceptance as a new contribution to science Thus, this chapter proposes to put before readers a comparative study of ancient Syadwad in the philosophical field and the more modern Theory of Relativity in the scientific world
Similarity of Names
The term Syadwad is a combination of two words, 'Syad' and 'Wad' 'Syad' is a preposition in Sanskrit synonym of "KATHANCHIT." It can be interpreted as 'in some context' or 'in some respect'. Hense