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The Jaina world of Non-living
6. Q.
There is no contradiction in postulating an ultimate atom as the ultimate cause only despite its occasional effect character.
A. This is not correct. The word 'only' with cause means a definiteness that it is the cause only and not an effect. [There should be a suffix 'also' with the cause to avoid the confusion and to give the realistic meaning.]
7. Q.
The ultimate atom is eternal.
A. This is also not correct. It is eternal as well as non-eternal. There are many qualities like electrical nature etc. in ultimate atoms whose degrees are changing. Thus, modally ultimate atoms are non-eternal. 8. Q. The ultimate atom is eternally the smallest entity and it effects the formation of di-atomics etc. Hence, it is the ultimate cause only and can not be an effect. Moreover, it is not produced by division also. A. If ultimate atom is inherently eternal, it cannot cause any effects like diatomics etc. as it cannot change its nature of atomicity. If these are its effects, it can also be effected by division, thus proving the nature of effectness of atoms. Moreover, until there is an effect, it cannot be called a cause also. One cannot be called a father until he has a son.
9. Q.
A.
The shadow etc. are the effects of eternal ultimate atoms.
This is not correct. The shadows are due to aggregates. There is shadow of objects consisting of infinite aggregates effected by many ultimate atoms. They are perceptible also. Thus, ultimate atoms cannot be the ultimate cause.
10. Moreover, the shadow is eye-perceptible. These visible phenomena cannot be caused by non-perceptible entities like ultimate atoms. Secondly, there is no eternal entity like ultimate atom as it is said to be produced by the division of aggregates.
11. Q. The ultimate atom is said to be permanent to indicate its eternality.
A.
This is also not correct. There are qualitative modifications in the atoms in terms of varying degrees in their positive or negative electrical nature etc. There cannot be any object which could be devoid of modifications.
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