Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 24

Microcosmology : Atom
element which is both matter and a moving force. Modern physics is, in some way, extremely near to the doctrines of Heraclitus. If we replace the word 'fire' by the word 'energy' we can almost repeat his statement word for word from our modern point of view. Each manifestation of energy involves either matter in motion or a change in its physical state, which we designate as physical energy; a change in the chemical constitution of matter, which we know as chemical energy; or a combination of the two. Physical energy can be converted into chemical energy and vice versa. The chemical energy stored in the plant manifests itself by an increase in the plant as weight as compared with that of its original constituents. Similarly, the release of energy manifests itself through a loss in the total weight of the plants as substance. Energy is, in fact, the substance from which all elementary particles, all atoms and therefore all things are made, and energy is that which moves. Energy is a substance since its total amount does not change, and that the elementary particles can actually be made from this substance is seen in many experiments on the creation of elementary particles. Energy can be called the fundamental cause for all change in the world. But comparison of Greek philosophy with the ideas of modern science will be discussed later.
Parmenides (450 B.C.) denied the existence of empty space for logical reasons. Since all change required empty space, as he assumed, he considered change to be impossible, and regarded the changes perceived by us as mere illusions of the senses. Parmenides was in strong opposition to Heraclitus, and where Heraclitus maintained that everything changes, Parmenides retorted that nothing changes. What the subsequent philosophy accepted from Parmenides was not the impossibility of all change but the indestructibility of substance. The concept of an indestructible substance as the substratum of varying properties grew out of this philosophy, and became one of the fundamental concepts of western thought.
Empedocles (440 B.C.), younger contemporary of Parmenides changed for the first time from monism to a kind of pluralism. He assumed four basic elements : Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Each of these were everlasting but they could be mixed