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Jaina Logic & Epistemology
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the object as a whole cannot be identified with any one of the aspects. It is logically constructed out of sense data. "All the aspects of a thing are real, whereas the thing is a merely logical construction”. 33 A thing, therefore, is complex and Russell does not identify an aspect of a thing with the whole thing. The thing is perceived by an individual in one aspect or the other. This is the private view.34 This does not lead to subjectivism, because the thing is real and it does not consist of the totality of the perceptive views, but also of the logically possible views. It is possible to know the thing in entirety if all its perspectives, perceived and unperceived are known. But this is not possible Therefore we cannot comprehend the nature of a thing in entirety at any one moment. Thus the Jaina conception of relativity of knowledge, and not as subjective alone, finds its expression in many modern Western philosophers.
Syadvada or Saptabhangi presents a methodology of predications which is meant for giving a comprehensive picture of reality. Modern science has realised that the methodology adopted by Syadväda is very useful for statistical investigations of probability, quantum physics and quantum mechanics. Professor Mahalnobis and J.B.S. Haldane have discussed the importance of Syadvada in the theory of probability Professor Kothari has presented the analysis of the application of the methodology of Syadvada in Quantum Mechanics. J. B. S. Haldane and Mahalnobis have emphasised the value of the Jaina theory of Syadvada for the methodological investigations of science.35
Recent researches in the theory of probability and statistics have shown the enormous importance of the Jaina theory of syadvada in understanding the problems of probability. In the journal Samkhya Vol. 18 Parts 1 and 2, Dr. Mahalnobis has discussed the impact of Syadvada doctrine in the interpretation of the theory of probability in statistics. In his paper entitled The Foundations of Statistics in the journal mentioned above Dr. Mahalnobis has made certain observations on the implications of Syadvada to the problems of probability. He says that there are certain ideas in Indian-Jaina logic in Syadvada which seems to have close relevance to the concepts of probability. He makes certain observations on
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