Theory of Atom in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 011108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Agam and Sahitya Prakashan
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 159
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 109

A CRITIQUE
103
50 ft high (lodge) it moves with a velocity as high as 270,000 kms per second its mass is a function of its velocity, it makes 500 trillon revolutions in a second All this is much more complicated than the old mechanics, but is nevertheless movement of matter in space and time Human reason has discovered many amazing things in nature and will discover still more, and will thereby increase its power over nature But this does not mean that nature is the creation of our mind or of an abstract mind ie of Ward's God 10
We have concluded that the Jain realism does not
accept philosophical idealism It should not, however, be assumed that all realist views are acceptable to Jains
Let us compare for example the views of the so-called materialists with the Jains view Both agree in accepting the objective realism, as well as the sensible qualities of matter 'Matter is a philosophical category designating the objective reality which is given to man by his sensations and which is copied, photographed and reflected by our sensations while existing independently of them" This definition of matter given by the materialists comes very close to the Jain definition of pudgala vız 'pudgala is that which possesses in itself the qualities of touch taste colour and odour, even though the Jain philosophy denies the possibility of direct perception of the ultimate atoms (paramānu) of matter through sensory means it accepts the quality of murtatva' being objectively existent even in paramānus Also both recognise matter as an objective reality. In the words of Lenin 'the sole property of matter with whose recognition philosophical materials is bound up is the
10 Materialism and Empino criticism pp 184-85