Question

Which philosophical doctrine is most closely associated with the Ajivika school?

• A. Syadvada (Theory of Conditional Predication)
• B. Niyati (Doctrine of Absolute Determinism)
• C. Pratityasamutpada (Dependent Origination)
• D. Anekantavada (Doctrine of Multiple Viewpoints)

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Niyati (Doctrine of Absolute Determinism)

The Ajivika school is most famously associated with the doctrine of Niyati, which teaches that everything is predetermined by fate and that free will, karma, and personal effort have no effect on the course of one’s life. This rigid determinism set the Ajivikas apart from other Indian philosophical traditions like Buddhism and Jainism, which emphasized ethical action and spiritual discipline.