Truthfulness and Truth in Jaina Philosophy

Main author: Flügel, Peter
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-8383
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
topic BC Logic
description Truthfulness and truth are not clearly distinguished in Jaina scriptures. A maxim of speaking the truth is stated in the so-called “satya-mahāvrata”, which Jain ascetics recite twice a day during their obligatory pratikramaṇa ritual. In accordance with the preferred Jain method of negative determination, the general principle of truthful speech is treated in terms of its characteristic violations, aticāra, that is, as the opposite of speaking non-truth, a-satya. Normative principles such as this are constitutive for Jain discourse to the extent that they are used by speech communities, both to generate and to interpret speech. The precise implications of the maxim of truthfulness for language usage are specified in form of a distinction of four types or ‘species’ of speech, bhāsā-jāya <bhāṣā-jāta>, which are at the centre of the Jain theory of discourse, supplemented by context-sensitive rules for proper ways of speaking, and examples. These analytical categories should be known and utilised by mendicants (ideally by all Jains) to prevent both the preparation and performance of violence, ārambha. They are investigated in this article from the perspective of comparative philosophy.
format Journal Article
author Flügel, Peter
author_facet Flügel, Peter
authorStr Flügel, Peter
author_letter Flügel, Peter
title Truthfulness and Truth in Jaina Philosophy
publisher Kalikālasarvajña Śrī Hemacandrācarya Navama Janmaśatābdī Smṛti Saṃskāra Śikṣananidhi Ahmadabād
publishDate 2010
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/8383/