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This volume takes up crucial problems faced by the old, suggests ways to address them and discusses the future scenario by viewing ageing and the aged in the context of increasing modernisation. The papers deal with intergenerational problems of the old, the environments effect on them and their nutritional status and health problems.
The old and aged in a society represent the bedrock of its existence: symbolising the past. They are the carriers of tradition, values and experience, the guiding light for the young without whom society is not total and lose its stability. And progress that a society makes, culturally and morally, is reflected in the way it treats its aged. This volume, comprising presentations at a national seminar on issues of ageing of current importance, takes up crucial problems faced by the old, suggests ways to address them and discusses the future scenario viewing ageing and the aged in the context of increasing modernisation. The well-researched papers, reflecting clarity in thought and language, deal with aspects like inter-generational problems of the old, the environments effect on them and their nutritional status and health problems. They examine how the age-old institution of the family and the newly-evolved concept of the old-age home cater to the needs and comforts of the elderly persons, with investigations into care of the aged in specific homes and institutions. They also focus specially on the plight of the poor aged and old women who are debilitated by the social environment and conditions as well. They study the priorities of action where the welfare of the aged is concerned, reviewing policies and programmes in operation including the National Policy for Welfare of the aged. The book would prove invaluable to scholars of gerontology and sociologists and be of interest to general readers as well.
Indian literature abounds in a variety of myths and legends narrating allegorical/historical stories with moral teachings where celestial or semi-celestial beings, in particular the apsarases, occupy an important place. The work examines the origin and development of the institution of apsarases and their characteristics as described in the vast corpus of Vedic, Epic-Puranic and classical works, with a thorough study of the depiction of the legend of the Urvasi and Pururavas.
Indian literature abounds in a variety of myths and legends narrating allegorical/historical stories with moral teachings where celestial or semi-celestial beings, in particular the apsarases, occupy an important place. Of such legends, a few have become much popular and they reappear in the course of the history of literature at various stages. One such legend is that of Urvashi and Pururavas which is one of the most ancient legends of India, owing its origin to the Rigveda. This scholarly work, based on extensive original sources primary, comprising ancient Sanskrit texts, commentaries and glosses and modern literary pieces, kavyas and plays, as well as critical writings on these original works, studies the origin and development of the institution of apsarases and their characteristics as described in the vast corpus of Vedic, Epic-Puranic and classical works. In this context, it undertakes an interesting survey of the concept of nymphs (apsarases) in Indo-European, especially Greek mythology. Dr. Handique then thoroughly examines the depiction of the legend of Urvashi and Pururavas a favourite theme that has been immortalised in literary masterpieces in Indian literature as a whole: from the ancient Vedas and Puranas, the Harivamsha and Vikramorvashiyam to modern works like Urvashi Janani and Abhishapta Urvashi and stray poetic pieces. Presenting a new angle to the study, the book attempts to explore aspects of an age old tradition that bears close affinity with the institution of the apsarases in terms of mode of living worship and ideals like system of the devadasis. The book will prove invaluable to scholars of Indian mythology, culture and literature as well as interest general readers of ancient India’s legends and tales.
Original inhabitants now living as refugees in their own land this is the plight of Kashmiri Pandits now. This book describes the life, customs and traditions of the half-a-million people of this community, and their march from medieval times into the modern age.
India is a land of communities, and Kashmiri Pandits are one of them. Though they are the original inhabitants of the Kashmir valley, famous the world over for its beauty and learning, they are living in their own country as refugees since 1989 due to religious persecution, ethnic cleansing and terrorism their only fault lay in their religion, Hinduism. This book describes basically the life and times of the half-a-million people of this community living in peace and harmony with nature. It also delves into the march of the people from medieval times into the modern age and the impact of transport and communication technologies that opened a window for information flow into the valley cocooned for so long due to the high mountains all around. Customs and traditions are described in a changing scenario brought about by the introduction of the English language in the late 19th century.
The book reinterprets some basic concepts of paramanu (atom), samanya (universal), ahamkara (the ego-principle) and karma as understood by the classical Indian philosophical systems the Nyaya-Vaishesikas, Samkhyas and the Buddhists. The articles explore the study of Aristotle’s Mean (Mesotes) and Buddha’s Middle Path (Majjhima Patipada).
Classical Indian Philosophy Reinterpreted consists of articles written by Victoria Lysenko and Michel Hulin two distinguished scholars of international repute on some basic concepts of classical Indian philosophy such as paramanu (atoms), samanya (universal), ahamkara (ego principle), and karma. These essays address important debates and issues that have arisen centering around Indian philosophical texts. In an essay an attempt has been made to resolve the apparent contradiction between the psychological and cosmic aspects of tattva in the scheme of the Samkhya dualism. One of the major contributions of this volume consists in situating Indian concepts from a comparative perspective as well. A comparative account of Aristotle’s Means (Mesotes) and Buddha’s Middle path (Majjihima Patipada) is illuminating. The notion of Christian reincarnation has also been compared and contrasted with the Indian concept of karma. The karmic principle has been interpreted as a mechanism for retribution and the link between karmic causality and the role of Ayurveda, the classical Indian science of medicine, has been explored and analysed. These essays share a common perspective in looking at philosophy from within the cultural traditions in which it grows. This book will be useful to researchers, academicians and other interested persons. Even a reader who is not familiar with classical Indian philosophical texts can form some idea about the rigour and thoroughness of Indian philosophical approach.
It examines the beliefs of ethnic groups together with archaeological data to study the traditional cosmic world-view of Indian, Rome, Columbia and Meso-America, presenting a comparative evaluation of these cosmologies.
Ancient cultures everywhere sought (among other philosophical speculations), to unravel the mystery of the Universe: its origin, its ultimate root, and what sustains and energizes it. As such, they not only tried to conceive the Universe according to their own vision, but also used varied metaphors/images to communicate the grand cosmic mystery that transcends the constraints of space and time, of logic and casuality. Exploring beyond the New-Age trend, this volume offers some of the insightful studies of ancient cosmology and the unique human experience producing its diversified expressions across the continents. Going into the beliefs of different ethnic groups, together with the data from different archaeological horizons, the book brings out the traditional cosmic world-view of Rome, India, Colombia and, more specially, of Meso-America a cultural area which, till the Spanish invasion in the sixteenth century, included most of the present Republic of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and parts of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Also included here is a comparative picture of the cosmologies of India, China and Meso-America. Essentially an assemblage of erudite presentations of a symposium held during the XVII International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences: 1995, Mexico City, the book captures a cross-section of the ongoing worldwide researches on cosmology. Which are bound to interest the scholars of anthropology, social anthropology, ethnology, religion and traditional cultures.
The work makes use of Darwinian insights to reveal that philosophical method can yield greater understanding of selfhood, consciousness of time and the nature of relation of thought to language. It presents a philosophy that is within the naturalistic tradition as represented by W. V. O. Quinn and which is vigorously defended against its competitor the Kantian tradition.
Has the universe a beginning? Was it created? Who, then, is its creator? Or, alternately, is the universe uncreated? Is it beginningless and endless, with, of course, continual changes? Synthesizing the cumulative knowledge of science, philosophy, and relegion: Eastern and Western, including Vedic/Vedantic metaphysics, Professor Pandas Cyclic Universe looks afresh at these mind boggling questions which, ever since the dawn of human civilization, have evaded a convincing answer. In coming to grips with the issues around the evolution of the universe: the grand cosmos, the author examines not only the whole range of creation theories: both religious and philosophical, but also the Big Bang, its rival theories and modified versions, together with all the recent advances in anthropology, astrophysics, cosmoslogy, Darwinism, molecular, biology, genetics, embryology, morphogenesis, neurobiology, and even computer science. Concludingly showing that the universe has been created, it has a creator, and the presently expanding universe will contract by a reverse process to be finally dissolved in the power of Brahman, Professor Pandas insightful analyses corroborate the Vedantic worldview of the cyclic phenomenon of the origin, sustenance and dissolution of the Universe. Offering an original, well-integrated thesis on the baffling cosmic evolution, the book is bound to fascinate scholars and discerning readers alike.
The volume consists of fourteen essays written by scholars of diverse disciplinary discourses, such as Philosophy, Political Science, Literature, Economics and Classical Studies (Sanskrit) and presented to the serious reader as an Indian picture of the virtuous life set against the larger background of virtues that are woven into the fabric of Western civilization.
Set against the background of the contemporary popularity of virtue ethics in the West, this book projects a unified picture of Indian Virtue Ethics by highlighting two interrelated purposes. First, it canvasses the point that Indian ethics, both in its classical and its modern shapes, is basically founded upon the cultivation of those attitudes that conduce to the realization of a virtuous self. Second, it draws out the various facets of virtues, traditional and modern, which bear a specifically Indian character. With these two aspects combined into a complex whole, this work manages to present itself as a coherent set of ethical ideas with a distinctively Indian identity.
The book consists of fourteen essays written by scholars belonging to diverse disciplinary discourses: Philosophy, Political Science, Literature, Economics and Classical studies (Sanskrit). As such, it presents to the serious reader a multi-perspectival Indian image of what it is like to lead a virtuous life and to aspire for human perfection.
Central to the Indian ideal of human perfection in the Indian tradition is the place of dharma in the overall scheme of life. While this centrality of dharma is recognized in the essays included in this book, the virtue-ethical interpretation of this central concept attempted in these essays is marked by a broader understanding of the concept adapted to the imaginative elucidation of the idea of a dharmic or virtuous life.
It is strongly believed that this book will be an eye-opener to scholars in Philosophy, Religion and Cultural Studies. It promises to set a new standard of ethico-philosophical scholarship by expanding the horizon of virtue ethics as it appears in present Western moral philosophy.
The book elaborates and analyses various strands of Sri Aurobindo’s thoughts on education. It also explores classical Indian model for education, with the viewpoints of some of his distinguished contemporaries like Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, J. Krishnamurti and others.
The anthology Education: Philosophy and Practice, an academic initiative of the Centre for Sri Aurobindo Studies, Jadavpur University, elaborates and analyses various strands of Sri Aurobindo’s thoughts on education. Sri Aurobindo divorced from history (especially from the very political atmosphere of the period, when it was a colonial India) is difficult to situate. The present study, keeping Sri Aurobindo’s ideas on education central to it, also explores classical Indian model of education, the Bengal National model for education and also explores viewpoints of some of his distinguished contemporaries like Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Sister Nivedita, Ananda Coomaraswamy and others. Sri Aurobindo, as a practical guide, as an acarya in the typical classical Upanisadic model, had far-reaching influences upon his disciples. This volume is an eye-opener for the subject on professional ethics for teachers and on the inter-personal relation between the teacher and student. The present volume consists of twelve essays which are analytic, informative and is lucid in style. This is a well-rounded text for students and an essential reference for researchers. This volume is surely helpful in the domain of Sri Aurobindo Studies.
The book is a meticulous research work based on field study that delves deep into the need for the empowerment of the aged while analysing the factors that lead to disempowerment in the old age as also the social role of old-age homes in mitigating the difficulties of the aged.
The book emphasises on a deeper understanding of ageing in the society of today, viewing it as a precarious process, both at the individual and at the societal level. It takes into consideration the position of the aged within the family and in the society, and the changes that have come about over the last few decades. Effects of globalization, break-up of the joint-family system, and the growing materialism and commercialization of society make the elderly viewed only from the ßeconomicû perspective.
The book examines certain theories on gerontology, pointing out that the workable theories should focus more on application so that the aged can benefit from such theories. It analyses the literature on the old: how different scholars and specialists have viewed ageing and its different aspects like the impact of genetic influences and the environment on ageing. Based on a field study, involving elderly from all castes and religious groups both in urban and rural areas, it delves deep into the need for empowerment of the aged. It argues that religion, community and the institutional stay have a direct correlation with the empowerment and disempowerment process, which has more impact on the upper than the lower castes. It undertakes case studies and comes up with interesting and significant observation. Personal income is considered the main source of empowerment. It significantly views institutional care of the old in the context of empowerment and disempowerment, analysing factors that force the old to choose to live in the old-age homes.
The volume is a meticulous research work that will prove extremely relevant to scholars and students as a sociological study on ageing and the elderly especially in the Indian context.
The dominant ethical understanding and its preservation strategy is erroneous in itself to serve us with a more evaluative ethics to the present environmental crisis because its idea of Nature itself can also tend to be limited. The author explores the traditional tribal understanding of the close correlation between man and his environment for a new dialogue in philosophy.
In an integrated and comprehensive framework, Environment Preservation: A Philosophical Critique takes a critical look at the increasing literatures and specific attempts at environmental preservation. The dominant ethical understanding and its preservation strategy, according to the author, is erroneous in itself to serve us with a more evaluative ethics to the present environmental crisis because its idea of Nature itself can also tend to be limited. The author turns away, therefore, from the sole western anthropocentric polemic and explores the traditional tribal understanding of the close correlation between man and his environment for a new dialogue in philosophy. The book will be imperative both to students at various undergraduate and post-graduate levels as well as to researchers. It will also interest anyone who wants to delve deeply into the philosophical issues of Nature preservation..
This book is a collection of research papers focussing on the phenomenon of cognition from the epistemological point of view in the light of the linguistic and the congnitivist shift in philosophy in general and in philosophy of science in particular.
The papers collected in this volume focus on the phenomenon of cognition from the epistemological point of view in the light of the linguistic and the cognitivist shift in philosophy in general and in philosophy of science in particular.
The recognition that psychology and cognitive science are central to the epistemological enterprise has led to a shift in the locus of evaluation from knowledge claims to belief formation in individual knowers. Psychological processes thus become primary objects of epistemic evaluations. The questions then are: (1) How are these processes to be evaluated?; (2) Given the limitations of a cognitive agent, how reliable are the methods employed by the cognitive architecture of the agent?; (3) How can the notion of reason and rationality be reconfigured so as to be tied to the new epistemology?; (4) Does the cognitivist approach help us to transcend the normativist-naturalist dichotomy?; (5) What light does the new approach shed on the rules of scientific and day-to-day reasoning?; (6) What is the significance of the new developments in epistemology in relation to the nature and limits of modelling as the basis of science as a cognitive enterprise. In dealing with these and similar other questions, the papers shed light upon the core concepts of epistemology (Western and Indian) such as concepts of meaning, reference, truth, justification, rationality etc.
The book explores values that involve mans existence and his interaction and interrelations with others and deal with the Vedantic, political and economic thoughts of eminent saints and thinkers of India. The articles also include various viewpoints with the hope to ignite the spirit of better understanding of values.
The anthology Ethics and Culture: Some Indian Reflections looks into global and local questions pertaining to individual morality and social ethos in the larger domain of man in relation to man, in relation to various domains of society and also in relation to nature/world/cosmos. A group of philosophers have presented a panorama of pluralistic Indian perspectives that include classical, traditional Vedic, contemporary and tribal viewpoints with the hope to ignite the spirit of better understanding of values. The result is a well-planned text for students of philosophy, sociology, anthropology and politics and an analytic and authentic reference for researchers with interest in these areas of thought.
Any forward-looking reader with a wider interest may find this anthology to be quite useful.
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