Studies in Jainism

Author(s): M P Marathe, Meena A Kelkar, P P Gokhle
Publisher: Indian Philosophical Quarterly Publication Puna

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CONCEPT OF MATTER IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
R. V. de Smet :
Dr. Sikdar has talked, in his paper, about the receivability of matter by Jiva. But if Jiva is essentially of the nature of Jñāna then such reception makes it not only Acetana and passive but also non-independent.
Sangamlal Pandey :
Dr Sikdar compares the Jaina theory of matter on the one hand and Greek theory of Heile, Newtonian Physics theory of
nd quantum theory of matter on the other. This amounts to forgetting differences between the latter theories. But granting this also makes similarity of the Jaina theory with each one of them questionable. Secondly, on Western materialism both Jiva and Ajiva are derivative of matter, but this is not so in Jainism. Moreover, Jaina theory is not a scientific theory, amenable to the criterion of falsifiability as Popper would say, but a philosophic theory.
S. S. Barlingay :
Dr. Pandey rightly says that there is difference between a philosophic and a scientific theory and that we should not mix between them.
Sangamlał Pandey :
Yes, precisely. The Jaina theory is intuitive and neither conceptual nor inferential.
K. C. Sogani :
Dr. Sikdar's equation of activity with motion is unfortunate. Further, Kāya does neither mean extension nor body, for taking kaya to mean any one of them would make explanation of the Astikāyatva of Jiva very difficult.
Dayananda Bhargava :
What is the relation between the Jaina theory of matter and that of Anekāntavāda ? Further, how is one to relate this theory with the position that believes in many Nayas?