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Chapter Three PHILOSOPHY AS CRITICISM - I He
Towards the close of the last chapter it emerged that Jainism as metaphilosophy is identifiable in its suggesting the adoption of a critical method in and through two celebrated theories. These are the theories which focus on the complex nature of Reality and the need for synthesising the various theories and respectively referred to as Anekāntavāda and Syādvāda. In the present chapter we shall consider the first one and, in the next, the second.
As indicated earlier' we shall adopt the procedure of looking into the content aspects as well as the methodological aspects of the two theories for arriving at the Jaina concept of philosophy. With this in view we shall refer to the details of the two theories (to the extent necessary) and also examine the implications of these to fulfill our main task in this study.
But, since the method in general is indicated as critically looking at theories proposed, we shall commence with a comment on the Jaina philosophers' insistence on evaluating 'rival claims', - their visualising the task of a philosopher who is to contend with divergent positions demanding a hearing and clamouring for consideration.
Taking positions in philosophy is noted as a 'given fact' in the sense that the existence of various schools of philosophy imply that they have taken divergent standpoints.? In line with our earlier comment we may reiterate that one of the most crucial aspects of building up systems of philosophy is proposing a theory in regard to the nature of Reality.
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