Class Notes 4 You

The above statement emphasises on the ideal of offering help and support to individuals in need, or otherwise let people achieve their goals without criticising them. Swami Vivekananda thereby gives us an ethical dictum to ensure progress in society while also maintaining harmony. Why helping others and not condemning anybody is important: 1. It helps build an inclusive society where all individuals live with dignity.  2. Sarvodaya of society through the welfare of Antyodaya is made possible, e.g. empowerment of women, transgenders within a choice-based framework.  3. It helps develop constitutional fraternity amongst people.  4. It ensures people cooperate and work with each other for collective growth and well being 5. Condemnation is a negative act that perpetuates negativity, anger, discontentment and shapes a negative attitude amongst people. It must therefore be avoided.  The need is to allow people to develop according to their own intelligence, for example th...

Internet expansion has been the key pillar of globalisation of values and cultures instilling a distinct set of values in people. These values often come in conflict with traditional values and create cleavages and discontentment in society. Cultural values due to internet expansion in conflict with traditional values: 1. The Internet allows us freedom of speech and expression which is also misused for abuse and spread of hate which is against the traditional values of being kind and compassionate in speech and actions. 2. The Internet has propagated fake news and a culture of post truth which is against the traditional values enshrined in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, of leading people from falsehood to truth. 3. The Internet has also been instrumental in propagating the values of individualism prevalent in the west which goes against the traditional values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Maha Upanishad) which sees the whole world as one family. 4. Glorification of self: promoting vanity and na...

Gender Inequality is a grave challenge that afflicts India and persists to disempower half its population. Dr. Ambedkar rightly said that the status of a society is best understood by seeing how women in that society are treated. Factors responsible for gender inequality in India: 1. Patriarchy: which lies at the root of gender inequality and is intertwined with the social fabric of society. 2. Orthodox traditions: like dowry, purdah, etc. which undermine the position of women. 3. Inequity in access to health and education services. 4. Son meta preference, as noted in the Economic survey determined by the sex ratio of the last child. 5. Low labour force participation rate. 6. Lack of autonomy and decision making. Contributions of Savitribai Phule:  1. She was India’s first female teacher who worked for the upliftment of women and untouchables in the field of education and literacy. 2. Along with Jyotirao Phule, founded the first school for girls called Bhide Wada in Pune, in 1948 3...

Attitude according to Harvard Scholar Michael Sandel are habits of the heart. A positive attitude of a civil servant is central to ensure efficient functioning in light of day-to-day governance challenges, conflicting priorities and ethical dilemmas. Civil servants have to exemplify good leadership skills within their organisation as well as in society. They have to be visionaries who are not distraught by challenges and can persevere against them.  What contributes to positive attitude in person? 1. Socialisation at home with mythological stories like Mahabharat, Ramayana, Jatakas which all emphasise the victory of good over evil 2. Socialisation at school through sports and collective participation which helps individuals develop healthy, positive attitudes. 3. Role modelling by celebrities also help support a positive attitude towards various things. E.g.: Neeraj Chopra as a role model for youth 4. Regular exercise, meditation, physical and mental well-being enables people to sa...

Laws and rules help maintain order and predictability in society. They are shaped by ethical ideals and are formulated so as to ensure that individuals find ethical guidance through them.  Laws Laws are usually formulated by the Parliament and seek to achieve common goods or prohibit injustices. For example: Dowry Prohibition Act.  They are wider.  Laws are mostly applicable within the territorial boundary of a country, unless specified.  Laws carry stronger punitive power and breaching them may result in stiff penalties including imprisonment, or if severe then death sentence.  Rules   Rules are mostly formulated by the executive to implement the laws. Or in families and institutions like a school.  Rules are micro and narrower.  Rules may be applicable beyond the territorial boundary also, for example conduct of diplomats and government servants. Personal moral rules, or religious rules also apply beyond the border. Rules are more flexible and d...

People have a desire to become powerful. If not guided by rationality and principles of moral duty, such will to power blinds the powerful, individuals and the nations. If not tamed and guided, the will to power can become the cause of destruction for humanity; ● Dictators from Hitler to Kim Jong Un, all are the slaves of their untamed desires for power. ● Neo-colonialism in the form of cultural imperialism and conditional aids continue to enslave nations and communities. ● In the race to become an economic superpower, countries are mercilessly exploiting people and nature. Results of which are visible in the form of poverty, inequality, Environmental degradation and humanitarian crises across the globe. If will to power is tamed with rationality and principles of moral duty then we can make the world a better place to live;  ● The unification of Germany and creation of the European Union, etc are some of the historical examples of tamed will to power. Shared common interests led t...

J S Mill Intro: it is said that if anybody is liberal, it is Mill. Context: during 18th century industrial revo thinkers like Locke and Adam smith gave the idea to free people and market from central authority. But no one could give a comprehensive idea of liberty as freedom on oneself and from society like mill in his book on liberty. On reviving utilitarianism: Classical liberalism/utilitarianism  postulated utility as the core value of liberalism Mill was inspired from Alexis de Tocqueville in understanding the sociological limitations of utilitarianism that lacked in human values Bentham had perverted the idea of liberalism by establishing utilitarianism as the core philosophy of liberalism. It was majoritarian and went against the categorical imperative of Kant.   Utilitarianism resulted in exploitation of workers and increased socio economic inequality Thomas Carlyle described it as a “pig’s philosophy.” Mill revised it and placed liberty as core idea of liberalism. It i...

John Locke Intro: known as the “father of liberalism.” He has given theory of natural rights, government by consent and toleration. context: had witnessed the glorious revolution of 1688 wherein peaceful transfer of power from monarchy to parliament had taken place. His ideas: Robert Filmer In his first book ,Locke criticised Filmer’s patriarchy for giving divine rights theory which said state is created by god and king is the representative of god on earth and hence enjoys absolute authority. Filmer was against social contract theory. Locke replaced it with natural rights of man and said state is a creation of man and it should not be worshiped but help man in realizing a good life( concept of service state). gives theory of limited state, hence in contravention to Plato, Rousseau, Hobbes who give absolute powers to state. Says govt does not has original powers but only delegated powers unlike Hobbes, for Locke man has both reason and passion, but in a balanced state. Says ev...

Hobbes Intro: Thomas Hobbes is known as the first modern thinker in the history of western philosophy. He is the first one to give the complete theory of sovereignty. His work- Leviathan Context: He had seen anarchy during the puritan revolution of seventeenth century in Britain. Hence his core concern was the establishment of peace and order in the society. In medieval times, theory of two swords led to chaos. Emperor and pope as two poles of authority. Mac had separated church and state. Hobbes puts church under the state. His ideas- Belongs to social contract tradition wherein state is a result of social contract. Belongs to Positive school of law- state is the source of laws.  Adv of positive law: its source is certain it is definite it is enforceable Creates equality between men as it is given by the state does not believe in natural law that is law derived from reason but in positive law as for Hobbes man has reason only till the point he understands what is good or bad for h...

Machiavelli Intro: was an Italian Renaissance diplomat, philosopher and writer, best known for The Prince, considered as best book ever on statecraft. Context- Rise of nation states in Europe Italy was divided into 5 feudal kingdoms. So mach wanted consolidation of Italy into a strong nation state to deter any invasion. Italy was the seat of Roman church. heavy corruption in church that was percolating down to the common man. When he was diplomat in the court of France, he was referred to as Mr. NIhilio. Mr. zero. Which means that he came from a place that has no respect among the countries of Europe Ideas: Prince should know art of management of power. He should be an enterprising person, i.e. a political entrepreneur. Takes power view of politics. Realpolitik. National interest is supreme. Nothing should come in its way, not even person’s religion or his ethics True child of Renaissance because he separated church and state ( Hobbes put the church below the state) His prince is not h...

 His work-Politics Intro: father of pol science as he was the first to analyse , critically and systematically, the subject matter of politics and identified its core elements such as sovereignty of law, constitutionalism, etc. Similarity b/w guru and chela: He and Plato believed in natural inequality of men. Plato- myth of metals ; Aristotle- justification of slavery State is prior to Individual both had no faith in masses. Plato wanted philosopher king whereas for Aristotle democracy was second worst form of govt. Difference b/w guru and chela: His ideas: Gave theory of justice - This was given in context of theory of revolution. talks about the idea of inequality. Believes in the inherent inequality between men. Hence he justifies slavery as well. Says treat equals equally and unequals unequally. Talks about proportionate equality, i.e. those who contribute more in service of the state and thus show greater civic excellence deserve more from the state than those who contribute ...

Socrates gave method of dialectics to develop a spirit of inquiry said not enough to know what constitutes life but more imp to understand what constitutes good life an unexamined life is not worth living theory of knowledge which said there is distinction b/w real knowledge and illusion of knowledge. Acc to him source of real knowledge is our soul. It can be gained not just be experience but by logical reasoning which he calls as dialectics.  Knowledge is the source of good life. knowledge becomes virtue only when applied. Use knowledge to challenge social norms and customs (e.g. RRM Roy, IC Vijayanagar)  PLATO: Introduction: father of political philosophy, the student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. Book- the republic: concerning justice context: wanted to find the reasons for the loss of Athens to Sparta in the Peloponnesian war. Why Athens lost to Sparta in the Peloponnesian war:  Athens was democratic (hence Plato opposed to democracy) while Sparta was...