Topic:Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
7) What do you understand by Integral humanism? Is the concept still relevant in the present political and economic conditions of India? Discuss.(250 words)
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the concept of integral humanism.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail the concept and its relevance in the present economical and political conditions of the country.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Discuss the concept in brief – Integral Humanism is a fine balance between Western Capitalism & Marxist Socialism. It avoids excesses or extremes of any of them.
Body:
Explain that as per Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya principles of Capitalism or Socialism cannot be made the principles of progress & development in India. According to him, India needs to develop an indigenous economic model that puts human at the centre stage.
According to him “Humankind had four hierarchically organized attributes of body, mind, intellect and soul which corresponded to four universal objectives, kama (desire or satisfaction), artha (wealth), dharma (moral duties) and moksha (total liberation or ‘salvation’). While none could be ignored, dharma is the ‘basic’, and moksha the ‘ultimate’ objective of humankind and society. He claimed that the main problem with both capitalist and socialist ideologies is this that they only consider the needs of body and mind, and were hence based on the materialist objectives of desire and wealth”.
Discuss the relevance of the concept in all spheres – social, economic and political.
Conclusion:
Conclude with relevance of the concept even as of today in political and economic aspects.
