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Anekanta : Philosophy of co-existence
of both the streams. It accepts both the independent existence of the sentient as well as the insentient. Its acceptance of both the ideas makes Jain philosophy dualistic: the sentient and the insentient. Thus three streams of philosophy have developed : Jadaadvaitavad, Atmaadvaitavad and Dvaitavad. Indian philosophy is divided into these three streams. Some modern philosophers think Sankhya philosophy is very ancient and that Jaina philosophy is built on it. This I feel is a narrow perception. Sankhya philosophy is undoubtedly very ancient but it should not be forgotten that Jaina philosophy is not less ancient. Sankhya philosophy and Jaina philosophy emerged from the same Shramana tradition. Since they share a common ethos similarities between them can be explored but their chronology or dependence cannot be asserted. Shankaracharya wrote that Kapil's Sankhya philosophy was in contradiction to the Vedas and even to the texts of Manu which is in accordance with the Vedas. That is, it is against Shruti or oral knowledge and Smriti or remembered knowledge and so it is not worth considering or reflecting upon. A reference in the Padmapurana says that Nyaya, Vaishesika and Patanjali's yoga philosophy are in contradiction with oral knowledge and therefore are not acceptable. I am amazed why scholars did not refer to these truths. Why were these factors not taken into account with respect to antiquity and articulation?
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