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Jaina Logic & Epistemology
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interpretation of the application of the concept of naya to the various problems of logic and philosophy. Kundakunda's emphasis on the distinction between Niscaya and Vyavahara naya is his special contribution. This distinction has a psychological content. The approach to the understanding of the nature of things depends on the capacity of the individual to grasp the nature of the thing. In the Samayasara18 Kundakunda explains that it is necessary to esent the nature of reality to different individuals from different
according to the capacity of the individuals to understand the nature of things. For some, it would be sufficient to present
inciples. But for others whose ability is less, it would be necessary to explain in allegoric and pictorial language. For the common man the metaphysical principles have to be explained in empirical terms.
Kundakunda has thus presented the distinction between the metaphysical and practical approaches to the problems of philosophy. He has interpreted the concepts of Jiva, Saṁyaktva, Upayoga and the concepts of theory of knowledge from the Niscaya and Vyavahara naya. For instance, while analysing the distinction of the concept of naya from the practical and the noumenal points of view, he mentions that Subha and Aśubha Upayoga are concerned with presenting the problems of the worldly conduct, while Suddha Upayoga is the characteristic of the pure and perfect soul.18
Syadrada is the logical expression of the nayavada. It is expressed in the seven-fold predication. It is called 'saptabhangi' because of its seven-fold predication. It is the formulation of the doctrine of the possibility of apparent contradictions in a real whole. In the syödvada all the aspects of truth are woven together into the synthesis of the conditioned dialectic. It is that conditioned method in which the modes, or predications (bhanga), affirm (Vidhi), negate (niśedha) or both affirm and negate severally and jointly in seven different ways a certain attribute (avirodhena) in an certain context (Presuavasat). 20
Syadvada is based on three fundamental predications : (1) Affirmation (asti), (2) Negation (nästi), (3) Indescribable (avaktavyaṁ). These three predications have been developed into
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