New Dimensions in Jaina Logic

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

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New Dimensions in Jaina Logic
Once Gautama asked Lord Mahāvira-'O Lord! is a twospaced aggregate self, not-self or indescribable?'
Lord replied—'O Gautama! a two-spaced aggregate is self in some respect, not-self in some respect and indescribable in some respect.'
Gautama said, 'How is it so, O Lord!?'
Mahāvira replied—'O Gautama! it is self in respect of its own nature, it is not-self in respect of alien nature and it is indescribable in respect of both.'
Four additional predicables follow spontaneously, viz.
1. A two-spaced aggregate is self in some respect, is not-self in
some respect. 2. A two-spaced aggregate is self in some respect, is indescribable
in some respect. 3. A two-spaced aggregate is not-self in some respect, is
indescribable in some respect. The seventh predicable follows in respect of a three-spaced
aggregate 4. A three-spaced aggregate is self in some respect, is not-self in
some respect, is indescribable in some respect.
A thing is positive and negative rolled into one. The doctrine of sevenfold predication has been framed on the basis of this dual attribute of position and negation. The dualities of universal-particular, permanent-impermanent, describable-indescribable can also constitute this system of sevenfold predication (saptabhangi). Each of these dualities can be used as the predicates of the seven propositions. Three propositions constituted by these duals are given below by way of illustration. It should be noted here that the Jaina philosopher's conception of universal is quite different from that of the Nyāya-Vaiseșika school. The Jainas substitute similarity for universal -
1. The pot certainly is similar in some respect.
The pot certainly is different in some respect.
The pot certainly is indescribable in some respect. 2. The pot certainly is permanent in some respect.
The pot certainly is impermanent in some respect.