Journal of Gyansagar Science Foundation 2013 04 01

Author(s): Sanjeev Sogani, Vimal Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Science Foundation

Page 29

SCIE
Limitations of Scientific knowledge and the concept of knowledge through consciousness in Jain philosophy
Dr. Surendra Singh Pokharna
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Abstract This paper summarized limitations of the scientific knowledge and formalism which is currently used to study living systems and human systems in particular. It is suggested that we need to explore the General Systems Theory (GST) for better understanding of these issues. It is shown that the concept of Jainism that knowledge is structured in the consciousness needs to be examined in the modern context. Three examples are given which shows that the concept of knowledge of consciousness has a great meaning and it can be good example to be pursued by the scientists. Two examples concerns with Shatabhdhanies, who demonstrate highly evolved mental faculties through which one can perform one hundred activities together in a sequence without using any pen and paper. The third provides a quantitative table which indirectly indicates that ancient Jain Acharyas have attempted to estimate the size of smallest particles of matter and the sizes which they have arrived at are statistically significant and are quite comparable to the sizes of the modern elementary particles of matter. They lead one to infer that there exist higher dimensions of knowledge including Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) which are not yet properly explored in a systematic way. Hence it is also mentioned that since knowledge of science has limitations, so ideas about knowledge of consciousness may lead to new frontiers of knowledge not yet recognized in modern science
As a consequence of this, it is also mentioned that Darwin's principle of "Survival of the fittest" should be compared to a wider principle "Live and Let Live" of Jains based on higher dimensions of knowledge which emphasize more on underlying identify (common soul) among all living beings than differences among them.
Ultimately it appears that the characteristics of a pure soul as described in Jainism may be quite closed to the concept of Implicate Order of quantum mechanics as described by David Bohm. Finally it is proposed that the process of enlightenment as described in Jainism to achieve the highest state of soul is accompanied by decrease in rate of entropy production at every stage. Hence there is a need to talk of some Order parameter.
So this type of analysis will provide new way of looking at the knowledge system of Jains and that of the modern science and new avenues of thought to handle the current problems.
Keywords: Scientific knowledge, Knowledge of consciousness, Soul, Shatavdhanie, General Systems Theory, Order, Implicate Order of Quantum Mechanics, Size of atoms and nuclei, Extra Sensory Perception, Survival of fittest, Live and Let Live.
Introduction
However, because of these changes and domination of science and technology in all walks of life, an impression has been created that scientific knowledge is the supreme and anything other, which does not fall into this domain is not very relevant. But Science and technology are just two hundred years old only and there was a concept of knowledge and technology even before the modern science came into existence.
Science and technology and their use in economical developments and commercialization have revolutionized the whole world in such a way that everything appears to have changed in last 100-200 years. Developments in the field of space technology, atomic energy, electronics, biotechnology, modern agriculture, telecommunication, and manufacturing systems are some of the examples of these changes. However, they have also resulted into an increase in population, depletion of natural resources, damage to the environment, increase in terrorism, threats of nuclear wars and so on. Also these changes have played a key role in making this world truly global.
Actually one finds that scientific methods developed to study physical systems are not adequate when human systems are also included in this type of formalism (John Gigch, 1978, Bertalanffy, 1976), because all living systems are essentially irreversible in nature, that is
Corresponding Auther: Dr. Surendra Singh Pokharna Ex. Chief Operating Officer, Juriscape (Hitech Outsourcing Services), Ahmadabad, (Former Scientist, Indian Space Research Organization), Email: sspokharna15@yahoo.com, Tel: 079-26925850, Mob: 09825646519
This paper is dedicated to Late Aacharya Shri Mahapragnyaji, whose literature and personal meetings of author with him has inspired him beyond imagination.