School of thought

Jainism

Tradition

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Classification

Period
c. 550 BCE onward
Regions
south asia
Domains
Ethics , Philosophy of Religion

Overview

Jainism teaches that every living being possesses an eternal soul (jiva) weighed down by karmic matter accumulated through actions. Liberation (moksha) requires strict ethical discipline — above all ahimsa (non-violence) toward all living beings — combined with right knowledge and right conduct. Its doctrine of anekantavada (many-sidedness of truth) is a sophisticated form of perspectivism.

Key ideas

  • Ahimsa: Non-violence is the supreme ethical principle. Jain monks sweep the path before them and strain water to avoid harming even the smallest creatures.
  • Anekantavada: Reality is complex and many-sided; no single viewpoint captures the whole truth. This doctrine of non-absolutism encourages intellectual humility and tolerance.
  • Karma as Substance: Uniquely, Jainism treats karma as fine material particles that cling to the soul, weighing it down. Ascetic practice burns off karmic matter, gradually liberating the soul.

Key figures

Mahavira · Parshvanatha · Umasvati · Kundakunda

Reacts to

  • Vedic Philosophy

    A heterodox (nāstika) tradition that explicitly rejects Vedic authority while absorbing the shared Indian conceptual milieu of karma, mokṣa, and saṃsāra.

Later connections

References

  • Padmanabh S. Jaini, The Jaina Path of Purification (University of California Press, 1979)
  • Tattvartha Sutra — Umasvati (trans. Nathmal Tatia)
  • The Jains — Paul Dundas