New Dimensions in Jaina Logic

Author(s): Mahaprajna Acharya, Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Today and Tommorrow Printers and Publishers

Page 81

Conditional Dialectics 73
define the nature of the real. This can be demonstrated by the doctrine of sevenfold predication (saptabhangi) which is as follows: 1. The pot certainly (eva) exists in some respect (syāt).
2. The pot certainly (eva) does not exist in some respect (syāt).
3. The pot certainly (eva) exists and does not exist in some respect
(syāt).
4. The pot is certainly (eva) indescribable in some respect (syat).
5. The pot certainly (eva) exists and is indescribable in some respect (svāt).
6. The pot certainly (eva) does not exist and is indescribable in some respect (syät).
7. The pot certainly (eva) exists, certainly does not exist and is indescribable in some respect (syāt).
It represents the existence of the pot, relegating the other attributes to a secondary position by excluding them from the intended area of reference.
The expression 'eva' (certainly) in the above propositions indicates the definite character of the assertion or the negation or indescribability or their possible combinations. Sometimes it is suggested that the expression 'also' (api) should be substituted for the expression 'certainly' (eva) in the above propositions. But such substitution would not carry much meaning. Without the use of the expression 'certainly' (eva) the intended attributes (existence, nonexistence etc.) would not be definitely determined. In the absence of relativism indicated by the phrase 'in some respect' (syat) the use of the expression 'certainly' (eva) would confer an absolutistic import on the propositions. But by the use of the word 'syat' (in some respect) indicative of relativism, the expression certainly (eva) loses the absolutistic import and confers definiteness on the intended attributes predicated in the propositions.
The expression 'eva' (exclusively) is used to serve three purposes
1. The exclusion of non-relationship. (ayogavyavaccheda)
2. The exclusion of the relationship with others (anyayogavyavaccheda).
3. The exclusion of absolute non-relationship (atyantayogavyavaccheda).
In the proposition 'the conch is white exclusively' there is the exclusion of non-relationship. The expression 'eva' (exclusively) is attached to the adjective for excluding the doubt about the existence of the adjective. When the whiteness of the conch is under query, the assertion is made that the conch is white exclusively.