6.3 METHODS OF LOGIAL INVESIGATION:

The investigation of a theory and proving it empirically needs investigatory tools. These tools are the tools of logic or tools of science. An  idea is theorized to become a hypothesis.  A hypothesis is tested according to the logical tools. When it is proved it becomes a thesis. This is what a modern scholar in science tries to do when he presents his research.

The objectivity of a theory is important in science. Psychological theories have to be proved similiarly. Psychological theories are becoming tested only for the past hundred years. The testability of the psychological theories like behavioral theories by IVAN PETROVICH PAVLOV heralded the delineation of psychology from philosophy by WILHELM WUNDT hundred years ago.

Logical methods were used atleast thousand years ago in philosophy and psychology by saiva scholars. These are called the “BRAHMANAM” (ALAVAI-IYAL) in saivasiddhantha. (அளவையியல்)

The logical methods and steps are ten. They are,

1.visual conformation=katchi=pradhyatcha காட்சி

2.thinking=karudhal=anumana கருதல்

3.theories=urai=agamam,sabthapramanaஉரை

4.falsification=inmai=abhavaஇன்மை

5.truth=unmai=sambavaஉண்மை

6.example=uvamai=ubamanaஉவமை

7.cancellation=ozhibu=parisedaஒழிபு

8.traditional=vazhaku=aidheehaவழக்கு

9.natural=iyalbu=sagajaஇயல்பு

10.abstraction=porulperu=arthabathiபொருட்பேறு

Theory testing follows the initial intuition and the tested concept are hypothesized. The hypothesis is given to logical investigation. The psychological states initially described are thus tested on the individuals and then they are theorized. Later they become scriptures.

The logical analysis or the logical positivism is a key issue in siddhantham as it increasingly leaves the core metaphysics and becomes the logic of mind or the science of psychology. Here it reveals its old connections with the hindu materialism[i] (also known as sarvaka). This logical study of self which begins as as metaphysical search, later manifests itself as a fully bloomed field of phenomenology and psycho-analysis.

It is to be noted the psychological phenomena were described by KARL JASPER in late 19^th century and they became PHENOMENOLOGY. Simultaneously the mental states were experimented to reason out the cause by SIGMUND FREUD in early 20 th century. That became PSYCHOANALYSIS.

When phenomenology was a descriptive method the psychoanalysis was a investigatory science. Saiva siddhantha had both these components.

The field of  HERMENEUTICS spearheaded by PAUL RICOUER from  France was aimed at studying these scriptures to prove the human psychoanalysis and folk psychology. Modern study of saiva siddhantha is also a hermeneutic method and is capable of proving the same  as Freud and Jasper aimed at.

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[i] Saiva Siddhanta is a rational philosophy. The concept of ‘Satkariya vatham’ is similar to the scientific concept that matter and energy get transformed from one form to another. The universe, according to the Big Bang theory in science, had an origin from a ‘cosmic egg’ and expanded to the present state. Even time was born from it. The Siddhanta concept of maya and its products has a close parallel with this scientific view. Referring to the universe, the 20^th century Scientist Albert Einstein said, “It is an expanding Universe”. The Saiva saint Manickavasakar made the same statement more than about 12 century ago. Even the verbal usage, ‘virinthana’ (expanding) in his statement appears to be the same. The Siva- Sakthy concept where the static and dynamic aspects are attributed to the one and the same Being is akin to the 20^th century scientific discovery regarding the duel aspect of atomic particles. These particles were found to exhibit the characteristics of particle and wave at one and the same time. Many such examples can be shown to draw parallels between Siddhanta concepts and scientific views. -:Dr.k.ganesalingam,saiva philosopher, London meykandar adheenam.