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Reals in the Jaina Metaphysics
of 3TFUTTEETTSTE or mutual dependance of the following form: The omniscient exist because they are mentioned in the non-Vedic texts; the non-Vedic texts are authoritative because the omniscient are their authors. The Agama or the authoritative scripture does not thus lend support to the doctrine of omniscience.
Arthāpatti consists in an argument like this: Devadatta is found to be fat; it is also known that he does not take meals in day time; hence he must be supposed to eat at night. It is ordinarily said that Buddha and others are found to teach duties to their disciples; it is also known that they are not versed or believers in the Veda's; how then could they have taught? The answer based on Arthāpatti is that Buddha etc. must have been omniscient. The Mimāmsaka's oppose this argument by saying that one, teaching about duties need not be omniscient. It is true that Buddha and others have taught about duties; but omniscience need not be ascribed to them on that account. It is possible even for an ignorant man to lecture on what should or should not be done. The Mimāṁsaka's declare that Buddha etc. are to be understood to have taught from their ignorance only,- Theraaaa !
The second line of argument that is advanced against the Mīmārsaka position is that leaving aside the teachers like Buddha etc. we find that wise men like Manu etc. have been teachers of duties. How could they be instructors without being omniscient? The Mimāmsā thinkers admit that Manu etc. were not ignorant men like Buddha and that their competency as teachers is in no way to be questioned. Still, according to the Mīmāṁsaka's even Manu etc. are not to be thought as omniscient persons. They were well-versed in the Veda's and this was the source of their teachership. Hence it is pointed out by the Mimāmsaka thinkers that Arthāpatti does not prove the reality of omniscience.
Lastly, the Mimāmsā philosophers show that the Pramāņa which is called Abhāva does not establish omniscience. The nature of Abhāva Pramāņa is as follows: A pitcher is an object capable of being perceived; when it is
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