Nyaya And Jaina Epistemology

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

Page 90

COMMON SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE....
The Import of a Sentence
According to Nyāya sabda gives us knowledge about the objects through the understanding of the meaning of the sentence. Now, the question is what is the meaning of ‘meaning'? Nyāya logicians have discussed the various aspects or problem of meaning. A sentence is a collection of words. Words have significative power which is the same as the relationship existing between the word and its meaning. By this we cognize the meaning whenever the word is heard. Nyāya gives the theory of conventional origin of this relation as against Mimāṁsā which believes in its natural origin. Jainism strikes the balance between the two views. The theory that words have natural capacity to express anything is not accepted by Nyāya. Gautama says that “it is by the conventional significance that the meaning of a word is understood”. 30 Their argument is if there were natural relationship between word and its meaning, then the word should have co-existed with the object signified. But this is not the case. Secondly, the same word does not mean same thing everywhere. We find variations in the meaning of words at different places which is against natural view. Thirdly, we use different words for the same object which refutes the theory of natural connection between words and their meanings. According to old Naiyāyikās, relation between the word and its meaning is not natural but it is established by the will of God. According to later Naiyāyikās it is not always established by will of God. It can also be established by will of man.
A word is a combination of letters arranged in a certain order. The essence of a word is its meaning. The primary meaning of a word is its inherent potency called abhidhā.