Jaina Epistemology

Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Epistemology of Jainas
son. It does not support or reject any point on the basis of merely the scriptural authority, but takes reasoning as the ultimate support.
8. Motive : The Agamic discussions are motivated with preaching of the path to liberation. They were meant for every person, laymen as well as scholars. Spoken language, simple and lucid style, informative outlook and such other factors make the Agamic literature a literature of the people. While the logical literature motivated with the desire for defeating the opponents in discussions, naturally, it meant for Pandits or learned scholars. Over and above the sincere and faithful reasoning, it adopted verbal wranglings also.
9. Right and Wrong: The notion of right (Samyak) and wrong (Mithyā) in the Agamic School is based on ethical position of the cognizer. If the cognizer is a person with right attitude (Samyagdrsti), every cognition is right; if, on the other hand if the cognizer is a person with perverted attitude (Mithyādssti) no cognition is right. The value of cognition is measured, in the Agamic school, with the scale of ethics. In the logical school rightness and wrongness have no concern with subject or the cognizer. They are related with the object. A cognition is right, if it corresponds with the object, otherwise wrong.
10. Upayoga and Pramāna : The epistemology of the Āgamas means the theory of upayoga; its definition, divisions and subdivisions. But, the epistemology of the tarka-period means the theory of pramāņa, or the problem of objective validity.
THE LITERATURE OF THE AGAMA-SCHOOL The Works known as Agamas
According to Jaina tradition the Āgamas are neither eternal, nor composed by any superhuman being or God as the systems of Mimāṁsā and the Nyāya, respectively, hold in the 1. Tat. Su I. 32-33, p. 56.