Jainism

Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

Page 65

CHAPTER - 5
PHILOSOPHY
Introduction
Philosophy is the rational investigation of truths and principles of being, knowledge or conduct. It is a critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge. Some believe philosophy is the "Love for Wisdom".
Although all civilizations have a long history of philosophic discourse, Indian philosophy has been one of the greatest civilization achievements down through the ages. India has been the home of major movements in the world of Eastern philosophy, from the Upanishads of the six schools in Indian philosophy to the various Jains and Buddhist philosophical texts.
Substance has infinite modes, thus, the field of philosophy is infinite. Truth is not confined to the already known and is much more than all we know today. Known truth is simply a small land in a vast ocean of unknown truths. Thus, it is said that the voyage of philosophy is a never-ending journey.
Narration
We are passing through an era of discord, friction and conflict. If we get confined to the ideas of the philosophers of the past, we will not be able to progress further and investigation of new modes will be brought to a halt. Situations change with the passage of time and changes take place at the mental and psychical levels. By exhibiting those changes in a philosophical pattern we not only widen the boundary of knowledge but develop creative power as well. It is therefore, necessary to rethink about the existing systems of philosophies.
One of the important points to rethink is that philosophy is not only confined to metaphysics. By analysing its relation with the conscious and unconscious world and various disciplines related to life, philosophy can bring about a revolution in the field of its utility and non-utility.
One of the aspects of Philosophy is to search out and propound universal laws. One of the aspects of science is to work in the restrictive field of the physical world. It has barely touched the field of consciousness, and hence, there is a great need to rethink philosophy today.