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JUDGMENT
173
The seventh proposition 'relatively the pot exists, does not exist and is indescribable' means that the pot exists with regard to its own properties, does not exist in regard to its non-existent characteristics and is indescribable if both the points of view are assumed simultaneously. Here the point of view is dominated by the combination of indescribability, existence and non-existence.
The point is that when the truth of a particular aspect of a thing is to be ascertained, it should not be examined only from one point of view. The Jainas hold that every aspect of an object can be viewed from seven stand-points, every one of which is true but the whole truth about that aspect lies in the combination of all these seven views. This seven-fold declaration of judgment in regard to everything is a peculiar and unique method of the Jaina dialectic. Just as existence is applied to everything, so also the terms permanent and impermanent, one and many, describable and indescribable and the like can be applied to it. The propositions will be the same with the change of these words. For instance relatively the pot is eternal (in view of its substance), relatively the pot is not eternal (in view of its changing forms) and so on.
The gist of the seven-fold judgment of the Jaina dialectic is as under : 1. Thesis (positive). 2. Anti-thesis (negative). 3. Aggregate (both positive and negative successively). 4. Synthesis (both positive and negative simultaneously). 5. Thesis and synthesis (positive and both positive and
negative simultaneously). 6. Anti-thesis and synthesis (negative and both positive and
negative simultaneously). Aggregate and synthesis (both positive and negative successively and both positive and negative simultaneously).
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