Class Notes 4 You

PREAMBLE- It is a short summary of the constitution highlighting its ideals, purpose and stated objectives that it wants to achieve is based on the objectives resolution moved by Nehru in the constituent assembly . Practice of writing a preamble started first with US constitution in Keshwananda case SC held that Preamble is an integral part of the constitution and the constitution has to be interpreted in the light of noble vision expressed in the preamble. Preamble reflects the idea of India, provides the philosophy behind the entire process of formulation of the Constitution.  Significance of the preamble- SC in Berubari union case 1960 held that Preamble is a key to the minds of constitution makers. wherever there is an ambiguity. It serves as a lighthouse. It reveals the source of the authority of the  constitution  i.e. the people of  India  (concept of popular sovereignty of Rousseau)in the opening words of it. It tells the nature of  Indian  sta...

Intro: enjoys a rare designation of being a political philosopher in a male dominated discipline. She is regarded as a heterodox thinker in the sense that her political philosophy doesn’t belong to any systematic philosophy. Thus, it is often described as thinking without barriers. Inspired by: Aristotle Karl Jaspers Martin Heidegger Context : A German Jew during times of Hitler and hence had first hand experience of Hitler's totalitarianism. theme of work- the importance of politics and necessity of participation in politics- scholar of civic Republicanism. Her ideas: Describes her thinking as thinking without barriers Her method as phenomenology (experience rather than observation/logic) to understand things. she explains totalitarianism in her book- on origins of totalitarianism- Totalitarianism arises when public sphere is lost and state has total control. Use of terror + ideology +propaganda= totalitarian system Ideology more important than terror becoz ideology legitimizes th...

Gramsi- wrote his thoughts in "prison notebooks" Intro: Antonio Gramsci is widely celebrated as the most original political thinker in Western Marxism , second only to Marx himself. he is considered as father of Neo-Marxism. Context: a contemporary of Mussolini and wanted to find out Why Marxist predictions didn’t come true and why capitalism rather than collapsing further prospered. Neo-Marxism(inspired by Young Marx) wanted human emancipation in its truest sense and not just economic revolution. But to be truly emancipated you must come out of the mental hegemony of the capitalists. This mental hegemony is created through various institutions like the state, civil society, church. These form part of super structure and hence Gramsci has been called as the theoretician of superstructure. Influence- Benetton Croce.  Gramsci appreciated Croce’s skillful use of the scholarly journal and press “to saturate the intellectual life of Italy with a single point of view, a...

Marx Intro: Karl Marx is best known not as a philosopher but as a revolutionary, whose works inspired the foundation of many communist regimes in the twentieth century. Inspired by- Hegel Ricardo Louis blanc Laws of dialectics. Gave dialectical idealism- ideas are the moving force behind historical processes. History moves in the from of dialectics of ideas to reach a stage of absolute idea in which all contradictions are resolved. Hegel developed three laws of dialectics: Unity of opposites- for every idea their is counter idea and they both exist together Negation of negation: the lower truth will be negated and higher truth will be left. Quantity changes into quality  Marx criticised Hegel: he is standing on his head. Labour theory of value by Ricardo that says  value  of a good is proportional to how much labor was required to produce it. talked about bringing socialism through revolutionary means His ideas- He criticised Adam smith due to his laissez faire theory in ...

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...