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Indian Philosophical Schools and
Anekāntavāda Prof. S. L. Pandey
1. The Constructive role of Jainism
A system of philosophy is either critical of other systems or not. If it is critical, its criticism may imply the elimination of other systems, or it may develop any one of them a little further, or it may offer a conjunctive synthesis of some of them or it may provide a dialectical synthesis of all of them. The history of philosophy is replete with such systems. Jainism however, significantly avoids all these alternatives. In this sense it is indeed a unique system of philosophy. Its uniqueness is largely due to its fundamental insight that reality has many aspects or simply Anekāntātmaka (Anantadharmātmakam Vastu). Its corollary is the view that every system of philosophy is true in so far as its basic insight is with the help of Anekāntavāda. Jainism argues for a disjunctive synthesis of all the systems of philosophy. The advantage that occurs from such a synthesis is manifold. At first it benefits all the systems of philosophy and preserves their identity intact. Secondly, it compels them to enter into mutual dialogue. Thirdly, it provides a philosophy of religious dialogue better than which no philosophy of dialogue has emerged so far. Finally it helps every seeker of the truth, cultivate the spiritual values - humility, religious tolerance and non-violence. These merits of Jainism have given it an invaluable place of honour in the history of philosophy and religion in general and in the history of Indian Philosophy in particular. Jainism has made Indian philosophy exceedingly moderate and detective as well as
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