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XII
SYĀDVĀDA The Doctrine of Possibility The Theory of Seven-fold Predication
The doctrine of Syādvāda can be considered as an extension of Nayavāda. It is the dialectic of seven steps or the theory of seven-fold predication. In Pramāṇanayatattvālokālankārah, we find description of this celebrated doctrine which is also called Saptabhangi. "The law of seven-fold predication consists in using seven sorts of expression regarding one and the same thing with reference to its particular aspects, one by one, without any inconsistency by means of affirmation and negation made either separately or together all these seven expressions being marked with in some respects (syāt)’'
Syādvāda literally means assertions of possibility. It is also called as 'quodammodo' doctrine 'the term quodammodo in mediaeval philosophy denotes what is only “in a sense correct' is regarded as equivalent to the Jaina 'syād.It implies not doubt or probability but discrimination of aspects. It emphasises un-one-sidedness as by it a thing is judged with 'equivocal particularization'. It asserts that every proposition
