Jaina Logic

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Raja Krisen Jain Charitable Trust New Delhi

Page 89

Jaina Logic
discussed the impact of Syadvada doctrine in the interpretation of the theory of probability in statistics. In his paper entitled The Foundations of Statistics in the journal mentioned above Dr. Mahalnobis has made certain observations on the implications of Syadvada to the problems of probability. He says that there are certain ideas in Indian-Jaina logic called Syadvada which seem to have close relevance to the concepts of probability He makes certain observations on the relevance of the doctrine of Syadvada in understanding the foundations of statistics"""
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1) The fourth predication of Syadvada avaktavyam or the 'indeterminate' seems to be in essence the qualitative (but not quantitative) aspect of the modern concept of probability.
2) The Jaina concept of the real as a particular which possesses the generic attribute is very close to the concept of an individual in relation to the population to which he belongs.
3) Jaina philosophy emphasises the relatedness of things and the multiform aspects of reals which appear to be similar to the basic ideas underlying concepts of association and correlation.
4) The Jaina view of 'existence, persistence and cessation' as the fundamental characteristic of all that is real necessarily leads to a view of reality as something relatively permanent and yet relatively changing which has a flavour of statistical reasoning.
5) The important feature of Jaina logic is its insistence on the impossibility of absolutely certain predication and its emphasis on non-absolutist and relativist predication. "All predications have margin of uncertainty which is somewhat similar to the concept of "uncertain inference" in modern statistical theory. However, the Jaina view is essentially qualitative
147. For Similar discussion refer to the Book Compendium of Jainism by Justice T K Tukol, (Karnataka University, Dharwad, 1980). pp. 314-319