Jaina Logic

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

Page 90

Syadvada
in this matter. Jainas rely on the data supplied by experience and show the inadequacy of formal logic.
I do not know whether it would be correct to say that the sevenfold predication implies 'margin of uncertainty", because every point of view, naya, does present a clear picture of thing, though a partial picture.
J. B. S. Haldane, in the same issue of the journal Samkhya has applied the Jaina logical methodology of the seven-fold predication to the statistical analysis of the problems concerning the physiology of the sense organs.
J B. S Haldane has made, in this paper, an elaborate and critical analysis of the sevenfold predication of the Jainas with reference to the statistical study of the physiological problems of sense organs. He shows that he has come to conclusions similar to those of Bhadrabahu. And he says, 'No doubt we reached it by different methods, Bhadrabahu by meditation, I by thinking about the result of concrete experiments on animals'. It is unrealistic to pretend that ancient philosophers anticipated all modern intellectual developments. And I believe that we, today, can do more honour to their memories by thinking for ourselves, as they did, than by devoting our lives to commentaries on them. But if we do so, it is our duty to point out cases where it turns out that our own thought has run parallel to theirs.
Dr. D. S. Kothari has analysed the relevance of Syadvada to the study of the problems of modern physics in his illuminating paper Modern Physics and Syādvāda published in the proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, in 1975 48. He was kind enough to send a cyclostyled copy of
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I have quoted extensively from his paper, Modern Physics and Syadvada (cyclostyled copy kindly sent to me by Dr. D. S. Kothari) published in the Indian National Science Academy, New-Delhi in 1975.