In this talk, I reinvestigate the two-truths theory, i.e., niścaya- and vyavahāra nayas (absolute- and conventional-perspectives) and its purported incompatibility with anekāntavāda (non-one-sidedness). I argue against some of the previous scholarship on the subject and show that the two-truths theory in the Jaina context is sensitive to the spirit of non-one-sidedness. This is especially evident in the works of Amṛtacandra, but the sources of this could be traced back to Kundakunda as well. I also briefly reflect on how the two-truths theory in the Jain context differs from its Buddhist and Vedāntin parallels. Through this talk, I bring into discussion some of the underexplored dimensions of anekāntavāda, especially its role in domains such as ethics and soteriology that are beyond metaphysics.
Dr Jinesh R. Sheth is currently Dharmanath Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Jain Studies at the University of Birmingham, UK. He is also a Project-Member of the Global Philosophy of Religion Project at UoB. He holds a BA (Sanskrit) degree from JRRSU, Jaipur, and MA (Philosophy) and PhD (Philosophy) degrees from University of Mumbai. His current research is focused on engaging with problems of philosophy through anekāntavāda (non-one-sidedness), especially dealing with issues pertaining to epistemology, ethics and soteriology.
