History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China cover image

History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China

HPI 49 - Well Qualified - the Jains on Truth

Sep 17, 2017
The podcast explores the Jain theory of seven predications and how it addresses criticism. It delves into the complexities of truth in the Jain tradition and discusses different viewpoints on inexpressibility. The episode also examines the Jain belief in multiple standpoints and their response to the accusation of self-contradiction.
18:13

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Quick takeaways

  • The Jain theory of standpoints incorporates multiple perspectives to understand the complexity of reality.
  • The Jains propose a sevenfold theory of predication to reconcile opposing philosophical positions and demonstrate the contextual nature of truth.

Deep dives

The Jain Theory of Standpoints and Perspectives

The Jain theory of standpoints suggests that various philosophical theories are true only from a certain perspective. For example, when discussing the metaphysics of universals, the Jain theory argues that both the realist and the skeptic viewpoints are correct, as they capture different aspects of reality. The Jains adopt a third standpoint that incorporates both perspectives, recognizing that reality is complex and can be understood from multiple angles. This standpoint is associated with the Jain concept of omniscience, which encompasses all standpoints. While this may seem contradictory, the Jains address this by introducing the term 'siat,' meaning conditionally or arguable, which signals that their assertions are not categorical, but depend on the perspective being considered.

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