Nyaya And Jaina Epistemology

Author(s): Kokila H Shah
Publisher: Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

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PREFACE
This book is slightly revised version of my thesis submitted to the University of Bombay for which I was awarded Ph.D degree. I am thankful to the authorities of Bombay University for granting me permission to publish this thesis.
The problem of idealism versus realism is one of the most fascinating problems in epistemology. The present thesis is an attempt to discuss epistemological problems of Nyāya and Jaina schools of thought. Jainism has a unique virtue of being a purely realistic system. Nyāya while clearly containing realistic elements, in the end falls short of fullfledged realism. Jaina realism successfully refutes agnosticism with the help of its concept of 'Omniscience.'
The second part of the book deals with Jaina Logic. Anekāntavāda with its two methods of Nayavāda and Syādvāda complements Jaina realism. Relativistic Epistemology to which Jainism is committed can give realism an adequate basis. It reveals many interesting facts about knowledge hitherto unknown. The uniqueness of Jaina realism must be recognised. Because of its non-absolutistic standpoint, Jaina realism presents itself as the significant form of epistemological realism which has no exact parallel in any system of thought.
Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre is an institution of oriental learning and research in Indology. I express my profound gratitude to Dr. Jitendrabhai B Shah