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एटोमिज्म इन जैन फिलासफी
६५
do not explain as to how from matter-mind is evolved and what is its mechanism? Sankhya has gone deep in this respect. It has connected matter with mind. Concept of Atma is absent in all the three systems of Philosophy. Iswara was also not clearly defined. Iswara, perhaps comes first in Yoga system of Philosophy.
Jaina, Boudhdh, Samkhya. Vaisesika do not believe in the present day type concept of God or Iswara. According to Samkhya mental World is not created by atoms it has entirely different branch of origin. Whereas Jainas and Vaisesikas consider every thing originating in or connected with atoms, in some way or another.
Greek Atomism
Before a comperative study of Greek and Indian Atomisms is attempted, it would be worthwhile to trace the development Greek atomism.
Two divergent views regarding ultimate origin of matter attracted Greek mind during 500 B. C. Heraculitus (502 B. C.) said that all things were in a state of flux and continuous change, five being the primary principle bringing the change. Parmend's and Eleatic school (5000 B C.) emphatically denied all motion and changes and led an attack on perceptions. Pythogoriands found reality in numbers as definite fundamental entities. Empedocles (450 B. C.), however, accepted the hypothesis of four fundamental elements and introduce in them possibilities of change and motion love and hatred, attraction and repulsion, etc.
Lucipous and Democritus (430 B. C.) tried to go to the roots of these four elements and developed a theory of atoms. Whereas Pythagorean thought of numbers and geometrical points, and the space confining, Democritus imagined of atoms having bulk, being physically indivisible, but spatially divisible. On this back ground flourished Greek atomism later on. A chronological development can be founded in Partington and Holmyard.
Vaisesika and Greek atomisms have been compared and contrasted by Subbarayappa.
Jain Atomism and other systems
Incidentally, at many places, we have compared Jain atomisms with Vaisesika, Boudha, Samkhya systems.
It may be pointed out that the concept and philosophical and technical terminology regarding Pudgalas and Skandha's were of Jains, Concepts of Jiva and Ajiva; Astikaya etc. are their original ideas. These were not influnenced by Greek Philosophers.
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