Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 67

CONTRIBUTIONS OF JAINA THOUGHT TO
SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY M. PRASAD, M. A. Ph. D.
In this paper an attempt has been made to indicate the contributions of Jaina thinking to social philosophy in general and Indian social philosophy in particular. Jaina thinking is predominantly religious in its outlook and is concerned with helping man to attain Nirvāna or Moksha by morally uplifting him. It may appear to a casual observer that since moksha is an individual endeavour, there is no place of social thinking in Jaina system of thought. But this is misunderstanding Jaina spirit of thinking about religion and ethics. Moral uplift which has been the means of securing release from bondage, implies one's conduct and behaviour in relation with other human beings and other forms of life. Society is interrelation of several beings with some end in view. Man is a social being and every thought, word and action of man has a direct or indirect impact on the society. The essence of religion is practice and discipline. It is a determined rational effort to lead a pious and moral life which cannot be thought to have no relation with other members of the society or group to which he belongs. It is in this sense that an attempt has been made here to asses the contributions of Jaina thought to social problems of man.
Social philosophy is here understood to mean philosophy of society in the same sense in which we speak of philosophy of science, philosophy of education or philosophy of history. The etymological meaning of philosophy is love of wisdom or knowledge. In this sense, Social philosophy would be an interpretation of Society and its various forms and institution for the sake of understanding them properly. What philosophy does is to make explicit the basic concepts, assumptions, modes of reasoning with respect to them. It tries to remove the confusions, and perplexities involved in thinking on social problems. Although analytical philosophers limit philosophy to the business of concept-clarification alone, in my view philosophy as a reflective activity cannot confine itself to concept-clarification only it must consider the worth and validity of accepted modes and norms of behaviour. And so pbilosophy must concern itself with the evaluation of customs, social usage and various social institutions.