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Chapter Two JAINISM AS METAPHILOSOPHY
In the light of the three meanings of the term darśana as used in the Indian tradition as the nearest equivalent of philosophy and, in terms of the suggestion that these 'meanings' of philosophy find an articulation in the Jaina tradition, we may enquire further as to how to arrive at the Jaina concept of philosophy.
It seems to me that the ideas of content and method provide useful starting points in our enquiry. It is obvious, even at the outset, that the two are related so closely that the consideration of the one cannot be attempted without an analysis of the other. The term 'content' may be understood, in general terms, as referring to the subject-matter; and, by *method' is meant the techniques adopted by different systems (of philosophy) to deal with the subject-matter.
Concerned as we are with an enquiry into the concept of philosophy as discernible in the Jaina tradition, suffice it to state here that the theme subjected to analysis is the nature of Reality. As man cannot be considered apart from Reality, reflection about the human condition is considered an equally legitimate subject matter of philosophy.
Arriving at the Jaina concept of philosophy may thus be attempted by delineating some details of its Weltanschauung. But here again what needs to be remembered is that these details qua details are not important for our specific task. These are to be considered with a view to identifying areas of enquiry which are crucial for philosophical analysis itself.
The Jaina philosophers throughout point to the fact that Reality is
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