Jaina Logic

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

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Syadvada the particulars of the same class. Man is a universal. Mr. Smith is a particular. Our main point is that in statistical analysis (and in the theory of probability) we need a new kind of abstraction which we call "represental". With reference to vision, for instance, Man has different possible states of vision. A particular man, Mr. Jones, for instance, has only one of these states of vision at any time. In between these there is an intermodiate level of cognition of which we are not interested in which particular man has which state of vision but only in the number of men having different states of vision. This is statistical analysis. Prof. Umakantha considers that with the concept of the 'represental' whose epistemological status is in between a particular and the universal Syadvada beconies the foundation of epistemology."
We may add a note on the role of logic in the Western thought today. The foundations of Western Logic were laid by Aristotle. Aristotle's syllogism aimed at establishing the arguments on the basis of consistency and validity in the premises. His syllogism was deductive and formal with least reference to material truth of the promises. For example - the argument. All men are mortal, Socrates is a man; :. Socrates is mortal - is formally valid and materially true, since the premises are true to fact. But in the argument - All men are mortal, This table is a man... This table is mortal. The minor premise is false. Still the argument is formally valid. All philosophy and logic, for several centuries were profoundly influenced by Aristotle's thought. In fact, as some philosopher has put it, all subsequent philosophy in the West was nothing but foot-notes to Aristotle's thought. It was Francis Bacon who brought about a Copernican revolution in logic and methodology of thought and freed logic from the shackles of Aristotle's formalism. He presented the beginnings of the methodology of science. It was Leibnitz who gave a new look
149. I have referred to Dr. Umakant's manuscript paper. I have referred
to his points discussod in the paper with his permission.