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Application of Anekāntavāda in Conflict Resolution
V.M. Doshi
Instinct of life is undoubtedly very active in every living being and it is no wonder that an animal does always try its best to preserve itself. But everyone, while preserving himself, should also consider his own living along with the living of others. One should have respect for life or others life in any form. Respect for life of others implies respect for their opinions.
We are all imperfect human beings. We cannot comprehend an object in its totality and our view of it, is limited. Human knowledge as its best is after all partial knowledge and it is not free from error and illusion. To view a thing not only from a single point of view but to examine it from all possible points of view is the real meaning of the doctrine of Anekāntavāda.
Remarkable for its originality, acuteness, subtlety and realistic approach and essentially a subject of folk philosophy, the theory of knowledge variously known as the doctrine of Anekāntavāda, the theory of multi-sidedness, the law of multiple reality of knowledge, the synthetic or synoptic theory, the law of multi-dynamic vision etc.; belongs to the realm of religion. Since it takes us nearer to truth in knowledge, it is a philosophy and since it teaches discrimination of conduct, it is a religion. It is a positive analytic approach towards philosophical, religious, ethical, economical, political and various other problems, which gives us a broader perspective and takes us nearer to truth. It is a doctrine of tolerance and respects the views, ideologies
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