UPSC Prelims 2009 Q57: Art & Culture – Philosophy & Religion

UPSC Prelims 2009, General Studies Paper I · Art & Culture

Anekāntavāda is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?

Answer: (b) Jainism

Explanation

What "Anekāntavāda" is core to

This distinctive philosophical doctrine of relativity of truth/multiple viewpoints belongs to a specific Indian tradition.

Option	Verdict	Reason
(a) Buddhism	Incorrect	Buddhism has its own distinct philosophical concepts (like dependent origination), not this specific doctrine
(b) Jainism	Correct	Anekāntavāda ('many-sidedness' or non-absolutism) is a core Jain philosophical doctrine, teaching that truth and reality are perceived differently from different viewpoints
(c) Sikhism	Incorrect	Sikhism's core philosophy centers on different concepts, not Anekāntavāda
(d) Vaishnavism	Incorrect	Also unrelated to this specific Jain doctrine

Anekāntavāda facts:

Point	Detail
Tradition	Jainism
Meaning	Non-absolutism/many-sidedness of truth
Related concept	Syādvāda (conditional predication)

Answer: (b) Jainism.

(a) Incorrect. Buddhism has its own distinct philosophical framework, not this specific doctrine.
(b) CORRECT. Anekāntavāda is a core Jain philosophical doctrine.
(c) Incorrect. Sikhism's philosophy centers on different core concepts.
(d) Incorrect. Vaishnavism is also unrelated to this specific doctrine.

Anekāntavāda ('many-sidedness' of truth) is a core philosophical doctrine of JAINISM.

Anekāntavāda: a core theory of Jainism.

Confusing Jainism's Anekāntavāda with Buddhism's own distinct philosophical concepts.
Not knowing the specific non-absolutism meaning of this term.
Mixing up different Indian philosophical/religious traditions' core doctrines.

Anekāntavāda = Jainism's core 'many-sidedness of truth' doctrine, related to Syādvāda.

Padmanabh S. Jaini — The Jaina Path of Purification (University of California Press, 1979)
R. S. Sharma — Ancient India (NCERT textbook for Class XI)