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Chapter Four
PHILOSOPHY AS CRITICISM-IIS
Before delineating further the idea of Jainism as metaphilosophy it is necessary to explicate further the significance of the critical method espoused by Jaina philosophers. The suggestion in the last chapter was that the need to adopt a critical method in philosophy was indicated in the Jaina tradition through two theories, Anekāntavāda and Syädvāda. Our endeavour in considering the first of these in some detail immediately as a follow-up of the suggestion was to indicate that the analytical procedure provides the critical method with a direction and a purpose. In the concluding part of that discussion it emerged that the critical method equally well required a complementary procedure of synthesis - this for reaching the destination by following the direction, i.e. for achieving the aim postulated for philosophy.
I want to spell out at this point that the idea of criticism espoused in Jainism is to be understood as constructive-positive rather than as destructive-negative. By the former expression is meant a creative approach to philosophy in which the value of the contribution of various schools is recognised and appreciated. Conversely the latter expression points to the attitude of putting down rival claims on the assumption that they do not promote the cause of philosophy. The Jaina philosophers' disapproving this approach would signify that criticisms of rival points of view ought not to be undertaken for their own sake. Criticisms are not to be considered as ends-in-themselves but only as means.
It might be added here that the danger inherent in looking upon the critical method in philosophy as solely being concerned with exposing
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