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Non naturalistic Epistemology And Metaphysical Realism : Are They Compatible in Jainism ?
G. Sundara Ramaiah
Brahmanical tradition with its sacrificial cult sought to bring about happiness either in this world or in the next world (Abhyudaya and Nisreyasa ). But since Jainism rejected the ordinary worldly pleasures it has to substitute for it an unchangeable state of infinite bliss or nirvana. In rejecting the sacrificial cult it was necessary for Jainism to develop certain lines of ethical theory independent of the Bra- hmanical tradition. And this forced Jaipism also to develop a
new line of thought in epistemology and metaphysics.
The aim of the paper is to give an account of the Jaina epistemology and metaphysics and trace out the naturalistic and non-naturalistic elements contained in both theories. While doing so we ask the question whether Jainism satisfactorily rec. onciles its predominent non naturalistic epistemology with its naturalistic metaphysics.
In order to avoid any differences in understanding what is
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