________________
CHAPTER IV
ABSOLUTE NEGATIVISM AND ABSOLUTE 2
PARTICULARISM
We have found that existence of things cannot be denied and that existence is only a part-characteristic which is not exclusive of non-existence as another element in the make-up of real. Non-existence as a characteristic is as much real and objective as existence is. But the objectivity of non-existence has been denied by some philosophers. The fluxist believes that nonexistence is only an ideal construction. But if non-existence were not real, how would the Fluxist account for the nonexistence of consciousness in matter and of colour and extension and shape in consciousness ? A thing is possessed of its own nature and not of the nature of another. This makes it possible for us to assert negative propositions. We assert 'A chair is not conscious' and 'consciousness is not extended.' The non-existence of consciousness in chairs is true for all times and for all places, and similarly the non-existence of extension in consciousness is true irrespective of time and place. The denial of non-existence would make these assertions false and unmeaning. But we see no logical ground to condemn these negative judgments as false, which the denial of non-existence would involve. The Fluxist contends that 'non-existence is not competent to perception' as it has no causal efficiency, which is the distinctive criterion of existence. The object of perception is that which is the cause of it, and since non-existence cannot be the cause of anything, it cannot be the cause of perception. It is further denied that non-existence can be inferred. Inference is based either on causal relation or on identity of nature between the probans and the probandum. But non-existence has neither causal efficiency nor a nature of its own. So nothing can be its effect or its correlate having identity of nature with it, on the basis of which non-existence could be inferred. Thus, there is not a single proof to establish the reality of non-existence. This argument of the Fluxist, however, affords another illustration of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
