Jain Theory of Multiple Facets of Reality and Truth (Book Review)

Summary

This book review evaluates ‘Jaina Theory of Multiple Facets of Reality and Truth (Anekāntavāda)’, a collection of papers edited by Nagin J. Shah and published by Motilal Banarsidass. The volume is based on a seminar organised by the Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology to address the relative scarcity of accessible material on anekāntavāda, the Jain doctrine that reality is multifaceted and that truth statements require contextual qualification. The reviewer notes that the book assembles contributions from prominent scholars and aims to present the doctrine in non‑technical English suitable for both specialists and general readers. The review summarises several noteworthy papers. One author compares anekāntavāda to Western theories of relativity, highlighting similarities between Jain pluralism and modern physics’ recognition of observer‑dependent phenomena. Another examines the saptabhaṅgī or ‘sevenfold predication’ framework, which allows a proposition to be described in seven mutually non‑exclusive ways, and relates this to multi‑valued logic. A paper by a logician discusses the principle of syādvāda using modal logic and fuzzy set theory, thus bridging traditional Jain epistemology with contemporary analytic methods. Other contributors respond to criticisms of anekāntavāda by thinkers like Bhaṭṭa Bhāskaravarman, explore parallels in early Pāli literature, and trace the doctrine’s influence on socio‑ethical practices such as non‑violence and vegetarianism. The book also includes a comparative study of anekāntavāda and Kantian epistemology and analyses the doctrine’s relevance to modern religious tolerance. According to the reviewer, the book successfully demonstrates that anekāntavāda is not a mere curiosity of Jain scholasticism but a sophisticated philosophical approach with contemporary implications. By contextualising the doctrine historically and applying it to current intellectual debates, the authors offer a compelling case for its relevance. The reviewer praises the book’s clarity, organisation and breadth, recommending it as an essential resource for students of Jainism and comparative philosophy.