reena patra | Panjab University, Chandigarh(India) (original) (raw)
Papers by reena patra
International Education and Research Journal, 2017
In this paper, an ancient Indian philosophy of architecture (Vaastu-Shastra) is explained and com... more In this paper, an ancient Indian philosophy of architecture (Vaastu-Shastra) is explained and compared to the work of contemporary philosophers of technology. The knowledge of Vaastu is cognitively understood as the concept of instrumental understanding, sense- understanding, theoretical and scientific understanding that describes its own philosophical study. While comparing Vaastu to the modern philosophers of technology we are certainly reminded of the philosophies of Carl Mitcham, Albert Borgmann and Don Ihde in some or other way. The philosophical issues of these contemporary philosophers are very much interlinked to the Indian philosophy of Vaastu – for example (a) Mitcham’s concept of technology from the ancient time till today, perceives technology as an object, knowledge and activity along with three ways of “Being-with” technology. (b) Secondly, Borgmann’s analyses of pervasive influence of technology in human life from a different perspective - philosophically, socially, h...
International Journal of Humanities and Religion, May 19, 2013
The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclu... more The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclusivist doctrine which has its distinctive and continuous impact on India’s social, political and cultural life. Unfortunately, even in the post-independence India, caste is a criterion of making one as the part of a society/ community. In fact, caste may be one of the prime considerations with which we look at each other. It implies the idea that one’s “being” is constituted and re-constituted by the other and the other in turn constitutes the “me”. What is central to the suggestion is that even today, caste has not lost its ontological status. Philosophically considered, they are the explicit manifestation of two kinds of ontologies that this tradition and culture has brought forth; the first one may be called as the ontology of permanence and the second may be called the ontology of impermanence. Thus, there are two conceptions of reality in this culture and the philosophies and world-view in this tradition may be categorized in terms of these two categories of ontologies. The radical question is whether the offered normative doctrines, unquestioningly practiced in India, provide the liberal political ideas of freedom and equality devoid of their casteist and its metaphysical trappings? This is the most formidable, intellectual, cultural, political and social anxiety that post-independence India faces with regard to the humanization of Indian societies.
ACADEMICIA: An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2013
Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as an all-e... more Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as an all-embracing philosophy. Hence, it is imperative that we require ethical values based on sustainable development that can direct the attention of the public in general and engineers in particular to adopt and employ such kind of technology which helps in development of social and moral issues involved in decision-making and assessing the role of technology from different angles, such as energy conservation, scale of utilization of non-renewable resources. It implies that the role of engineering provides not only planning, designing, and constructing, but also has the responsibility to help to protect the environment by restoring the natural resources for future generations. Sustainable engineering is a component of creative process of utilizing science and technology and making use of energy and resources at a rate, which does not compromise the integrity of natural environment. Understood in a holistic structure, sustainability is a composite and multifaceted vision of development which limits the economic growth and other human activities to the capacity of nature for self-regeneration and places the progress of human situation and respect for environmental excellence. The present paper is an attempt in articulating an engineering solution to this issue with an ethical concern.
Asian Philosophy, 2006
... etc. Some of the great sages, originators, teachers and preachers of Vaastu Shastra are Brahm... more ... etc. Some of the great sages, originators, teachers and preachers of Vaastu Shastra are Brahma, N arada, Brihaspati, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Vishwakarma, Maya, Kumara, Anirudha, Bhoja, Sukra and others' (Rao, 1995, pp. xixii). ...
Urbanization is the most pronounced phenomena among the third world countries that impact social,... more Urbanization is the most pronounced phenomena among the third world countries that impact social, cultural and economic aspects of the space. Though there are several methods to study urbanization with sophisticated techniques, cultural indicators are stronger and simpler, who clearly evidence change in the society. One such change to favour the process urbanization is the prevalence and predominance of western brands in all walks of life in a social space. A collection of information on the western brands in clothing, eateries, saloon, recreation, pharmaceutical, mall culture, the high raised apartments substantiate westernization of the society by cutting through traditionally closed society. A careful study of facts of western brand prevalence in Gulbarga city interlinks with its growing urbanization there by characterizing the growth of the city.
Sustainable Development, 2009
... These traditional principles contour buildings in multifarious forms, structures varied from ... more ... These traditional principles contour buildings in multifarious forms, structures varied from one another to suit the different classes of buildings, to satisfy different functions, and they ... 9 Vaastu Vidya architectural knowledge. ... Vaastu Shastra: Towards Sustainable Development ...
Abstract: This article is purported to explore the ethical dimensions of environmental sustainabi... more Abstract: This article is purported to explore the ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability which has certain philosophical issues. It is argued in the paper that the philosophical import and the ethical grounding for environmental sustainability is based on the conception of nature as an environment rather than that of nature as a mere object for sustenance. Such conception of nature implies the concept of sustainability as a positive value in the society. In the case of nature as environment, nature becomes the natural habitat of man and is always supportive of human existence. The second issue that concerns the present paper pertains to ethical sustainability of environment, which is based on the ethical commitments of average people if adequate environmental protection is to occur. As such, environmental ethics is concerned with the issue of responsible personal conduct with respect to sustainability of natural resources. The ethical issue at present is the recovery of...
The present paper is concerned with tracing the genealogies of the concept of sustainable develop... more The present paper is concerned with tracing the genealogies of the concept of sustainable development in philosophy per se, comparing those genealogies with two important conceptions of rationality, i.e.; metaphysical rationality and instrumental rationality with its previous and contemporaneous developments on other intellectual fronts. The paper expounds the idea that sustainability implies more than the economics that follows therein. Rather, it includes the aspects like spiritual character and the ability to know and to act. The paper further considers the present circumstances that encourage a strong interest in instrumental rationality, which is the theoretical reason that subordinates nature and use it in an unsustainable way. Thus, the paper elucidates on the notion that the metaphysical understanding of the term ‘sustainable living’ enhances the quality of human life that implies the unfoldment of the human spirit. We must also include in our characterization the mental asp...
Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 2015
The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding ... more The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding of nature, nature as an object and nature as environment. The former understanding of nature is enhanced by instrumental rationality, which is said to be the cause of ecological crisis. It is shown in the paper that till the nineteenth century, Christian scholars and theologians have neither judged nature according to human utility (instrumental rationality) nor have they made earthly man as the measure of all things. They have considered man as a channel of grace for nature because man only can cast light into the world of nature through his active participation. This excellence was distinctively evident in some of the Christian saints, mystics, and theologians like Origen, Irenaeus, St. Bonaventure, Gregory of Nyssa, Dionysius the Aropagite, and St. Francis of Assisi. For them, nature was sacred and there was a definite disdain of the artificialities of sedentary life. According to them, species is the manifold ideas in the divine mind which at a particular cosmic moment have become imprinted in the corporeal world and retain their reality on other planes of existence. In a word, the present paper argues for re-inventing the spiritual significance of nature by the humanization of the cosmos and the cosmicization of the human because the foundations of Christian tradition were built on a relation among man, God, and the cosmos where the unity and multiplicity in nature is related to the concept of Trinity in Christianity as well as to the cosmic character of Christ.
Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 2019
The present article consists of four parts, and the first part examines the concept of life-world... more The present article consists of four parts, and the first part examines the concept of life-world from the phenomenological perspective and argues that the characteristic features of the life-world would be through inspection, analysis and description of the life as we encounter it devoid of scientific explanations. The second part of the paper develops the idea that religion finds its meaning and significance only in the domain of life-world because the phenomena that one experiences in the religious acts take place primarily in a pre-theoretical way. Thus, it is argued that the operative dimension of phenomenology of religious consciousness involves a new understanding of subjectivity-a passive plane of subjectivity-whose locus is differently conceived by Husserl, Scheler and Heidegger. The third part of the paper draws attention to the religious phenomena whose intended structures and meanings go beyond mediation and suggests that symbols form a realm between objectively given things and subjectively intended meanings. In other words, religious symbols serve as indispensable mediating bridges. The final part of the paper proposes that religious experiences like all other experiences, though are rooted in life-world, yet it transcends its worldly contents.
Traditionally, there are six schools of philosophy within the Indian philosophical tradition that... more Traditionally, there are six schools of philosophy within the Indian philosophical tradition that represent different view points on the nature of reality. The important aspect that is particularly visible in this system of thought is the particular technique that was used in carrying on a particular philosophical thinking without compromising the view point of the other. That is to say that various systems of philosophical thought were able to inscribe commentaries and sub-commentaries on the philosophical Sutras. In other words, there were different kinds of thought patterns which were co-existing side-by-side and were able to assert its existence as a logical and legitimate reality. Hence, the philosophical thinking in India was traditionally known by the position it takes in accordance with a particular vision of reality based on the Vedas which is said to reveal the truth. They received their name meaning knowledge because they embody the highest Truth. The Hindus trace the original source of their cultural life to the Vedas which they hold to be divine truth revealed from time to time to the Rishis, or Seers in their supreme state of consciousness. Their religion, philosophy, ritualistic practices, civic conduct, and even social relations were guided by certain codes which were known as Smritis; but all of them are based upon the scared sanction of Vedic authority.
ABSTRACT Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as... more ABSTRACT Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as an all-embracing philosophy. Hence, it is imperative that we require ethical values based on sustainable development that can direct the attention of the public in general and engineers in particular to adopt and employ such kind of technology which helps in development of social and moral issues involved in decision-making and assessing the role of technology from different angles, such as energy conservation, scale of utilization of non-renewable resources. It implies that the role of engineering provides not only planning, designing, and constructing, but also has the responsibility to help to protect the environment by restoring the natural resources for future generations. Sustainable engineering is a component of creative process of utilizing science and technology and making use of energy and resources at a rate, which does not compromise the integrity of natural environment. Understood in a holistic structure, sustainability is a composite and multifaceted vision of development which limits the economic growth and other human activities to the capacity of nature for self-regeneration and places the progress of human situation and respect for environmental excellence. The present paper is an attempt in articulating an engineering solution to this issue with an ethical concern.
The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding ... more The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding of nature, nature as an object and nature as environment. The former understanding of nature is enhanced by instrumental rationality, which is said to be the cause of ecological crisis. It is shown in the paper that till the nineteenth century, Christian scholars and theologians have neither judged nature according to human utility (instrumental rationality) nor have they made earthly man as the measure of all things. They have considered man as a channel of grace for nature because man only can cast light into the world of nature through his active participation. This excellence was distinctively evident in some of the Christian saints, mystics, and theologians like Origen, Irenaeus, St. Bonaventure, Gregory of Nyssa, Dionysius the Aropagite, and St. Francis of Assisi. For them, nature was sacred and there was a definite disdain of the artificialities of sedentary life. According to them, species is the manifold ideas in the divine mind which at a particular cosmic moment have become imprinted in the corporeal world and retain their reality on other planes of existence. In a word, the present paper argues for re-inventing the spiritual significance of nature by the humanization of the cosmos and the cosmicization of the human because the foundations of Christian tradition were built on a relation among man, God, and the cosmos where the unity and multiplicity in nature is related to the concept of Trinity in Christianity as well as to the cosmic character of Christ.
The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclu... more The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclusivist
doctrine which has its distinctive and continuous impact on India’s social, political and cultural life.
Unfortunately, even in the post-independence India, caste is a criterion of making one as the part of a
society/ community. In fact, caste may be one of the prime considerations with which we look at each other.
It implies the idea that one’s “being” is constituted and re-constituted by the other and the other in turn
constitutes the “me”. What is central to the suggestion is that even today, caste has not lost its ontological
status. Philosophically considered, they are the explicit manifestation of two kinds of ontologies that this
tradition and culture has brought forth; the first one may be called as the ontology of permanence and the
second may be called the ontology of impermanence. Thus, there are two conceptions of reality in this culture
and the philosophies and world-view in this tradition may be categorized in terms of these two categories of
ontologies. The radical question is whether the offered normative doctrines, unquestioningly practiced in
India, provide the liberal political ideas of freedom and equality devoid of their casteist and its metaphysical
trappings? This is the most formidable, intellectual, cultural, political and social anxiety that postindependence
India faces with regard to the humanization of Indian societies.
Abstract: This paper provides a condensed information about the various philosophical schools of ... more Abstract:
This paper provides a condensed information about the various philosophical schools of thought that have provided
epistemological, metaphysical ontological and axiological foundations of Indian philosophy which has unfortunately said to
engineer certain general orientations toward a framework that was able to catalyze a way of life that outlined philosophy of
exclusion. It is purported to state that certain elements of philosophical speculations and the resultant deviant attitudes to
certain sections of people were considered to be pollutant had created an ideology of exclusion which was later sanctified by
theological pundits. Hence, the present study is intended to trace the historical trajectory of the issue of untouchability and its
implicit philosophy of exclusion by providing a epistemological framework of the systems of Indian philosophy and then
pointing out where the contending theories of these systems tend to divide in terms of the issues of untouchability and
exclusion.
International Education and Research Journal, 2017
In this paper, an ancient Indian philosophy of architecture (Vaastu-Shastra) is explained and com... more In this paper, an ancient Indian philosophy of architecture (Vaastu-Shastra) is explained and compared to the work of contemporary philosophers of technology. The knowledge of Vaastu is cognitively understood as the concept of instrumental understanding, sense- understanding, theoretical and scientific understanding that describes its own philosophical study. While comparing Vaastu to the modern philosophers of technology we are certainly reminded of the philosophies of Carl Mitcham, Albert Borgmann and Don Ihde in some or other way. The philosophical issues of these contemporary philosophers are very much interlinked to the Indian philosophy of Vaastu – for example (a) Mitcham’s concept of technology from the ancient time till today, perceives technology as an object, knowledge and activity along with three ways of “Being-with” technology. (b) Secondly, Borgmann’s analyses of pervasive influence of technology in human life from a different perspective - philosophically, socially, h...
International Journal of Humanities and Religion, May 19, 2013
The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclu... more The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclusivist doctrine which has its distinctive and continuous impact on India’s social, political and cultural life. Unfortunately, even in the post-independence India, caste is a criterion of making one as the part of a society/ community. In fact, caste may be one of the prime considerations with which we look at each other. It implies the idea that one’s “being” is constituted and re-constituted by the other and the other in turn constitutes the “me”. What is central to the suggestion is that even today, caste has not lost its ontological status. Philosophically considered, they are the explicit manifestation of two kinds of ontologies that this tradition and culture has brought forth; the first one may be called as the ontology of permanence and the second may be called the ontology of impermanence. Thus, there are two conceptions of reality in this culture and the philosophies and world-view in this tradition may be categorized in terms of these two categories of ontologies. The radical question is whether the offered normative doctrines, unquestioningly practiced in India, provide the liberal political ideas of freedom and equality devoid of their casteist and its metaphysical trappings? This is the most formidable, intellectual, cultural, political and social anxiety that post-independence India faces with regard to the humanization of Indian societies.
ACADEMICIA: An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2013
Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as an all-e... more Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as an all-embracing philosophy. Hence, it is imperative that we require ethical values based on sustainable development that can direct the attention of the public in general and engineers in particular to adopt and employ such kind of technology which helps in development of social and moral issues involved in decision-making and assessing the role of technology from different angles, such as energy conservation, scale of utilization of non-renewable resources. It implies that the role of engineering provides not only planning, designing, and constructing, but also has the responsibility to help to protect the environment by restoring the natural resources for future generations. Sustainable engineering is a component of creative process of utilizing science and technology and making use of energy and resources at a rate, which does not compromise the integrity of natural environment. Understood in a holistic structure, sustainability is a composite and multifaceted vision of development which limits the economic growth and other human activities to the capacity of nature for self-regeneration and places the progress of human situation and respect for environmental excellence. The present paper is an attempt in articulating an engineering solution to this issue with an ethical concern.
Asian Philosophy, 2006
... etc. Some of the great sages, originators, teachers and preachers of Vaastu Shastra are Brahm... more ... etc. Some of the great sages, originators, teachers and preachers of Vaastu Shastra are Brahma, N arada, Brihaspati, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Vishwakarma, Maya, Kumara, Anirudha, Bhoja, Sukra and others' (Rao, 1995, pp. xixii). ...
Urbanization is the most pronounced phenomena among the third world countries that impact social,... more Urbanization is the most pronounced phenomena among the third world countries that impact social, cultural and economic aspects of the space. Though there are several methods to study urbanization with sophisticated techniques, cultural indicators are stronger and simpler, who clearly evidence change in the society. One such change to favour the process urbanization is the prevalence and predominance of western brands in all walks of life in a social space. A collection of information on the western brands in clothing, eateries, saloon, recreation, pharmaceutical, mall culture, the high raised apartments substantiate westernization of the society by cutting through traditionally closed society. A careful study of facts of western brand prevalence in Gulbarga city interlinks with its growing urbanization there by characterizing the growth of the city.
Sustainable Development, 2009
... These traditional principles contour buildings in multifarious forms, structures varied from ... more ... These traditional principles contour buildings in multifarious forms, structures varied from one another to suit the different classes of buildings, to satisfy different functions, and they ... 9 Vaastu Vidya architectural knowledge. ... Vaastu Shastra: Towards Sustainable Development ...
Abstract: This article is purported to explore the ethical dimensions of environmental sustainabi... more Abstract: This article is purported to explore the ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability which has certain philosophical issues. It is argued in the paper that the philosophical import and the ethical grounding for environmental sustainability is based on the conception of nature as an environment rather than that of nature as a mere object for sustenance. Such conception of nature implies the concept of sustainability as a positive value in the society. In the case of nature as environment, nature becomes the natural habitat of man and is always supportive of human existence. The second issue that concerns the present paper pertains to ethical sustainability of environment, which is based on the ethical commitments of average people if adequate environmental protection is to occur. As such, environmental ethics is concerned with the issue of responsible personal conduct with respect to sustainability of natural resources. The ethical issue at present is the recovery of...
The present paper is concerned with tracing the genealogies of the concept of sustainable develop... more The present paper is concerned with tracing the genealogies of the concept of sustainable development in philosophy per se, comparing those genealogies with two important conceptions of rationality, i.e.; metaphysical rationality and instrumental rationality with its previous and contemporaneous developments on other intellectual fronts. The paper expounds the idea that sustainability implies more than the economics that follows therein. Rather, it includes the aspects like spiritual character and the ability to know and to act. The paper further considers the present circumstances that encourage a strong interest in instrumental rationality, which is the theoretical reason that subordinates nature and use it in an unsustainable way. Thus, the paper elucidates on the notion that the metaphysical understanding of the term ‘sustainable living’ enhances the quality of human life that implies the unfoldment of the human spirit. We must also include in our characterization the mental asp...
Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 2015
The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding ... more The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding of nature, nature as an object and nature as environment. The former understanding of nature is enhanced by instrumental rationality, which is said to be the cause of ecological crisis. It is shown in the paper that till the nineteenth century, Christian scholars and theologians have neither judged nature according to human utility (instrumental rationality) nor have they made earthly man as the measure of all things. They have considered man as a channel of grace for nature because man only can cast light into the world of nature through his active participation. This excellence was distinctively evident in some of the Christian saints, mystics, and theologians like Origen, Irenaeus, St. Bonaventure, Gregory of Nyssa, Dionysius the Aropagite, and St. Francis of Assisi. For them, nature was sacred and there was a definite disdain of the artificialities of sedentary life. According to them, species is the manifold ideas in the divine mind which at a particular cosmic moment have become imprinted in the corporeal world and retain their reality on other planes of existence. In a word, the present paper argues for re-inventing the spiritual significance of nature by the humanization of the cosmos and the cosmicization of the human because the foundations of Christian tradition were built on a relation among man, God, and the cosmos where the unity and multiplicity in nature is related to the concept of Trinity in Christianity as well as to the cosmic character of Christ.
Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 2019
The present article consists of four parts, and the first part examines the concept of life-world... more The present article consists of four parts, and the first part examines the concept of life-world from the phenomenological perspective and argues that the characteristic features of the life-world would be through inspection, analysis and description of the life as we encounter it devoid of scientific explanations. The second part of the paper develops the idea that religion finds its meaning and significance only in the domain of life-world because the phenomena that one experiences in the religious acts take place primarily in a pre-theoretical way. Thus, it is argued that the operative dimension of phenomenology of religious consciousness involves a new understanding of subjectivity-a passive plane of subjectivity-whose locus is differently conceived by Husserl, Scheler and Heidegger. The third part of the paper draws attention to the religious phenomena whose intended structures and meanings go beyond mediation and suggests that symbols form a realm between objectively given things and subjectively intended meanings. In other words, religious symbols serve as indispensable mediating bridges. The final part of the paper proposes that religious experiences like all other experiences, though are rooted in life-world, yet it transcends its worldly contents.
Traditionally, there are six schools of philosophy within the Indian philosophical tradition that... more Traditionally, there are six schools of philosophy within the Indian philosophical tradition that represent different view points on the nature of reality. The important aspect that is particularly visible in this system of thought is the particular technique that was used in carrying on a particular philosophical thinking without compromising the view point of the other. That is to say that various systems of philosophical thought were able to inscribe commentaries and sub-commentaries on the philosophical Sutras. In other words, there were different kinds of thought patterns which were co-existing side-by-side and were able to assert its existence as a logical and legitimate reality. Hence, the philosophical thinking in India was traditionally known by the position it takes in accordance with a particular vision of reality based on the Vedas which is said to reveal the truth. They received their name meaning knowledge because they embody the highest Truth. The Hindus trace the original source of their cultural life to the Vedas which they hold to be divine truth revealed from time to time to the Rishis, or Seers in their supreme state of consciousness. Their religion, philosophy, ritualistic practices, civic conduct, and even social relations were guided by certain codes which were known as Smritis; but all of them are based upon the scared sanction of Vedic authority.
ABSTRACT Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as... more ABSTRACT Ours is an era which provides much emphasis on sustainable development and lifestyles as an all-embracing philosophy. Hence, it is imperative that we require ethical values based on sustainable development that can direct the attention of the public in general and engineers in particular to adopt and employ such kind of technology which helps in development of social and moral issues involved in decision-making and assessing the role of technology from different angles, such as energy conservation, scale of utilization of non-renewable resources. It implies that the role of engineering provides not only planning, designing, and constructing, but also has the responsibility to help to protect the environment by restoring the natural resources for future generations. Sustainable engineering is a component of creative process of utilizing science and technology and making use of energy and resources at a rate, which does not compromise the integrity of natural environment. Understood in a holistic structure, sustainability is a composite and multifaceted vision of development which limits the economic growth and other human activities to the capacity of nature for self-regeneration and places the progress of human situation and respect for environmental excellence. The present paper is an attempt in articulating an engineering solution to this issue with an ethical concern.
The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding ... more The present paper is based on the contention that there are two conceptions of the understanding of nature, nature as an object and nature as environment. The former understanding of nature is enhanced by instrumental rationality, which is said to be the cause of ecological crisis. It is shown in the paper that till the nineteenth century, Christian scholars and theologians have neither judged nature according to human utility (instrumental rationality) nor have they made earthly man as the measure of all things. They have considered man as a channel of grace for nature because man only can cast light into the world of nature through his active participation. This excellence was distinctively evident in some of the Christian saints, mystics, and theologians like Origen, Irenaeus, St. Bonaventure, Gregory of Nyssa, Dionysius the Aropagite, and St. Francis of Assisi. For them, nature was sacred and there was a definite disdain of the artificialities of sedentary life. According to them, species is the manifold ideas in the divine mind which at a particular cosmic moment have become imprinted in the corporeal world and retain their reality on other planes of existence. In a word, the present paper argues for re-inventing the spiritual significance of nature by the humanization of the cosmos and the cosmicization of the human because the foundations of Christian tradition were built on a relation among man, God, and the cosmos where the unity and multiplicity in nature is related to the concept of Trinity in Christianity as well as to the cosmic character of Christ.
The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclu... more The present paper is purported to examine the Indian caste system as the unique ideology of exclusivist
doctrine which has its distinctive and continuous impact on India’s social, political and cultural life.
Unfortunately, even in the post-independence India, caste is a criterion of making one as the part of a
society/ community. In fact, caste may be one of the prime considerations with which we look at each other.
It implies the idea that one’s “being” is constituted and re-constituted by the other and the other in turn
constitutes the “me”. What is central to the suggestion is that even today, caste has not lost its ontological
status. Philosophically considered, they are the explicit manifestation of two kinds of ontologies that this
tradition and culture has brought forth; the first one may be called as the ontology of permanence and the
second may be called the ontology of impermanence. Thus, there are two conceptions of reality in this culture
and the philosophies and world-view in this tradition may be categorized in terms of these two categories of
ontologies. The radical question is whether the offered normative doctrines, unquestioningly practiced in
India, provide the liberal political ideas of freedom and equality devoid of their casteist and its metaphysical
trappings? This is the most formidable, intellectual, cultural, political and social anxiety that postindependence
India faces with regard to the humanization of Indian societies.
Abstract: This paper provides a condensed information about the various philosophical schools of ... more Abstract:
This paper provides a condensed information about the various philosophical schools of thought that have provided
epistemological, metaphysical ontological and axiological foundations of Indian philosophy which has unfortunately said to
engineer certain general orientations toward a framework that was able to catalyze a way of life that outlined philosophy of
exclusion. It is purported to state that certain elements of philosophical speculations and the resultant deviant attitudes to
certain sections of people were considered to be pollutant had created an ideology of exclusion which was later sanctified by
theological pundits. Hence, the present study is intended to trace the historical trajectory of the issue of untouchability and its
implicit philosophy of exclusion by providing a epistemological framework of the systems of Indian philosophy and then
pointing out where the contending theories of these systems tend to divide in terms of the issues of untouchability and
exclusion.