Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Nagrajmuni
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 44

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JAIN PIIILOSOPHY & MODERN SCICNCC ments in the light of Theory of Relativity, discussing about the errors in Geometry and measurements in the light of Theory, of Realativity. It is said that in Geometry a line is that which has length but no breadth or width and a point has no length even. But in practice there is no such visible line which has no breadth or width It may be negligible or very fine but it cannot be said that it is not there The same is the case with the planes in space. May be that our brains may think only of length or breadth (without thickness) but nature has not made any such thing which has only two dimensions. If we see a straight line drawn on a paper, we think that its straightness is natural But if mocroscopically examined, the so-called straight line will not be so straight a line as we think it to be.
The same is the casc with measurements. The length, breadth ,and width are meant to define point, line, planes etc We do not look at them in their real relative position 'but in the context of an ideal norm. For measuring length, a fixed ideal norm is not available Even the most solid metallic wire or rod of iron or brass expands or contracts by a ten millionth part of its length, by merely turning it from one direction to another Even the measurement of same land by different people at different times is not always the same You may put a mark by glass or platinum or you may measure it by the best instrument, yet there is always some discrepancy left in different measure