UNIT - 4
Q. Define harmony in nature. OR Explain the harmony in nature.
Ans: The aggregate of all the mutually interacting units – big or small, sentient or insentient together can be called nature. These units are infinite in number and we could easily observe that there exists a dynamic balance, self regulation among all these units. This self regulation is harmony or balance in nature. The law of nature has a unique cause and effect system which must be understood in order to be in harmony with the natural law of things.
Natural harmony is necessary for the following reasons:
1. Natural harmony is necessary to solve the problem of global warming and depletion of non-renewable natural resource can be avoided.
2. Natural harmony with trees cure all problems like – reduction of wind velocity, energy savings, doing companion planting, development of an eco-subsystem in terms of establishing a forest garden, reduction of building heat.
3. It is possible to achieve natural harmony in the establishment, maintenance and management of educational institution like schools, colleges and universities.
4. One can understand the depths of harmony and alignment in natural by contemplating and reflecting upon the natural order. It is possible to unravel the mystery of the natural synthesis in the midst of ongoing chaos at the material plane.
Q. What do you mean by co-existence?
Ans: Co-existence in nature means there is a relationship and complementarity among all the entities in nature including human beings. Co-existence is a state in which two or more groups are living together while respecting their differences and resolving their conflicts non-violently. Co-existence has been defined in numerous ways:
1. To exist together (in time or space) and to exist in mutual tolerance.
2. To learn to recognize and live with difference.
3. To have a relationship between persons or groups in which none of the parties is trying to destroy the other.
4. To exist together (in time or place) and to exist in mutual tolerance.
The world is full of Diversity – there are different nations, cultures, religions, communities, languages, and beliefs. The beauty of existence can only be maximized if everything in this world is in harmony. Peaceful, symbiotic co-existence is the key to harmony in the world. nature. OR Explain the harmony in nature.
Ans: The aggregate of all the mutually interacting units – big or small, sentient or insentient together can be called nature. These units are infinite in number and we could easily observe that there exists a dynamic balance, self regulation among all these units. This self regulation is harmony or balance in nature. The law of nature has a unique cause and effect system which must be understood in order to be in harmony with the natural law of things.
Natural harmony is necessary for the following reasons:
1. Natural harmony is necessary to solve the problem of global warming and depletion of non-renewable natural resource can be avoided.
2. Natural harmony with trees cure all problems like – reduction of wind velocity, energy savings, doing companion planting, development of an eco-subsystem in terms of establishing a forest garden, reduction of building heat.
3. It is possible to achieve natural harmony in the establishment, maintenance and management of educational institution like schools, colleges and universities.
4. One can understand the depths of harmony and alignment in natural by contemplating and reflecting upon the natural order. It is possible to unravel the mystery of the natural synthesis in the midst of ongoing chaos at the material plane.
Q. What do you mean by co-existence?
Ans: Co-existence in nature means there is a relationship and complementarity among all the entities in nature including human beings. Co-existence is a state in which two or more groups are living together while respecting their differences and resolving their conflicts non-violently. Co-existence has been defined in numerous ways:
1. To exist together (in time or space) and to exist in mutual tolerance.
2. To learn to recognize and live with difference.
3. To have a relationship between persons or groups in which none of the parties is trying to destroy the other.
4. To exist together (in time or place) and to exist in mutual tolerance.
The world is full of Diversity – there are different nations, cultures, religions, communities, languages, and beliefs. The beauty of existence can only be maximized if everything in this world is in harmony. Peaceful, symbiotic co-existence is the key to harmony in the world.
Q. What do you mean by ‘innateness’? What is the innateness in the four orders? (MTU 2011–12)
or
What do you understand by the term ‘innateness’ (dhaarna) in nature? Explain the innateness of material and animal order in nature. (MTU 2011–12 even)
Ans: Innateness (dharana): Innateness means qualities which are innate to the unit. Each unit in existence exhibits an innateness, an intrinsic quality that cannot be separated from it. We refer this principle as innateness also called dharna of that unit. This is intrinsic to the unit.
Material order: When we burn coal and it has finished burning and only some ash is left and smokes have gone out, it is not that the basic material, the fundamental particles in coal, have ‘cease to exist’ or ‘disappeared’ from existence. They may not be visible to the eye at that moment, but they continue to exist, they still are in the form of other matter or in the form of gases, etc. This is there with all material units. We cannot destroy matter, we can only convert it from one form to the other. Thus, “to exist”, or ‘existence’ is intrinsic to all material, it is innate to it. We cannot separate the ‘existence’ of a thing from the thing itself.
Plant/bio order: Because the pranic order is a development of the material order, it also has the innateness of ‘existence’. In addition, it also exhibits the ‘growth’. This principle of ‘growth’ cannot be separated from any units of this order. If it is of pranic order, it will grow. For example, if you have a plant, you cannot stop it from growing. It will continue to respire and keep changing in this way. The only way you can stop it from growing is by cutting it, but when you do that, it ceases to belong to the pranic order, instead decays and then belongs to the material order. So, as long as you have a plant, it will grow.
Animal order: The animal body is a development of the pranic order and therefore this order inherits the innateness of the previous order namely ‘existence’ and ‘growth’. This is at the level of the body, which is physico-chemical in nature. In addition, all units in this order have the ‘will to live’ in ‘I’. Indeed no unit in this order can be separated from this ‘will to live’. It is intrinsic to every unit in this order.
Human (knowledge) order: When we look at the human being, we find that ‘existence’ and ‘growth’ are fundamentally present in the body, just as in the animal body. At the level of ‘I’ however, in addition to the ‘will to live’, a human being’s innateness is the ‘will to live with happiness’.
Order
|
Things
|
Innateness
|
Material order
|
Soil, water, metals, etc.
|
Existence
|
Pranic order
|
Plants and trees
|
Existence + growth
|
Animal order
|
Animals and birds
|
(Existence + growth) in body + will to live in ‘I’
|
Human order
|
Human beings
|
(Existence + growth) in body + will to live with
happiness in ‘I’
|
Q. What is the svabhava (natural characteristic) of a unit? Elaborate on the svabhava of a human order.
or
How does the natural characteristics (svabhava) of material order helped man to lead a better life?
or
Explain the natural characteristics of the material and pranic orders. Give examples. (UPTU 2011–12)
or
What are the natural characteristics (swabhava) of human order? Explain. (MTU 2011–12)
Ans: When we look at the different orders in nature, we find that each order has a certain value. In a fundamental way, this is the ‘usefulness’ or ‘participation’ of the order in existence. This ‘value’ or ‘participation’ is also referred to as “natural characteristic”. The ‘characteristic’ the order displays in ‘natural to itself’. This is the same as the value of the entity, or its participation also called ‘svabhava’. The svabhava of material order is ‘composition/decomposition’, of Plant/bio order is ‘composition/decomposition’ and to nurture or worsen other pranic units. The svabhav of animal order and human order can be understood in two aspects: body and self. The svabhav of animal order is Composition / decomposition, nurture / worsen in body and non cruelty, cruelty in ‘I’. The svabhav of human order is Composition / decomposition, nurture
/ worsen in body and perseverance, bravery, generosity in ‘I’.
Similar as to the case in animals, the human body also belongs to the plant/ bio order and hence has the same svabhava or value/natural characteristic as the pranic order. It either nurtures or worsens other pranic units. As in the example above, when I digest the vegetable, I absorb the plant and it worsens, while my body is nurtured. The svabhava/ value of the self (‘I’) in human beings is perseverance (dhirata), bravery (virata) and generosity (udarata).
Ø Perseverance (dhirata): Being assured that the all encompassing solution is to understand and live in harmony at all levels of existence, living with this commitment without any perturbation.
Ø Bravery (virata): Being assured that the all encompassing solution is to understand and live in harmony at all levels and I am ready to help the other to have the right understanding. This is the commitment to help the other have the right understanding of the harmony and living at all levels of existence.
Ø Generosity (udarata): Being assured that the all encompassing solution is to understand and live in harmony at all the four levels and I am ready to invest myself, my body and wealth to help the other have the right understanding.
Human beings are not living as per this natural characteristic; even though we have a svabhava, we are not living according to this. This is basic reason for the contradiction and conflict that we see in human being. This is what leads to a state of unhappiness. Only when we live according to our basic human characteristics as mentioned above, we have definite character, otherwise, it is not definite, it is uncertain, unlike other three orders as discussed above.
Order
|
Things
|
Natural Characteristic
|
Material order
|
Soil, water, metals, etc.
|
Composition / decomposition
|
Pranic order
|
Plants and trees
|
Composition / decomposition + nurture / worsen
|
Animal order
|
Animals and birds
|
(Composition / decomposition, nurture / worsen) in body + (non cruelty, cruelty) in ‘I’
|
Human order
|
Human beings
|
(Composition / decomposition, nurture / worsen) in body + (perseverance, bravery, generosity) in ‘I’
|
Q. What are the four orders of nature? Briefly explain them.
Ans: All the physical objects that are in solid, liquid or gas state either living or non-living, collectively termed as nature. In other words, the aggregate of all the mutually interacting units – big or small, sentient or insentient together can be called nature. These units are infinite in number and we could easily observe that there exists a dynamic balance, self regulation among all these units. There are four orders of nature:
Material order: The big land mass of the continents, gigantic water bodies like ocean and seas, mountains and rivers, the atmosphere above, the heaps of metals and mineral below, the dense gases and fossil fuels deep below the surface of the earth – all fall into the material order or padartha avastha. In fact, if we look around beyond the earth, the material order is visible even in the form of stars, planets, moons and several astronomical bodies.
Pranic order: Our land mass is covered with grass and small shrubs and they form the lining on the entire soil. Shrubs, plants and trees form huge forest along with the flora in the ocean. All of this is the plant/bio order or prana avastha and it is the next big order on our planet. (The material order is far greater in quantity compared to the plant/bio order)
Animal order: Animals and birds form the third largest order and we call them the animal order or jiva avastha. Here again, we see that the plant/bio order is far greater in quantity than the animal order.
Human order: Human are the smallest order and they are referred to as human order or gyana avastha. Animals are far greater in quantity as compared to the human order.
Q. Explain the differences and similarities between animal order and human order. What is the relation between the two orders? (UPTU 2009-10)
or
Present the difference and similarity between a human being and an animal. Give examples to support your answer. (MTU 2010–11)
ANS. The two orders can be distinctly recognized in terms of their characteristics, participation with other units in similar order, activities, pattern of inheritance, etc. We can see this in the following diagram:
Order
|
Things
|
Activity
|
Innate-ness
|
Natural
Characteristic
|
Basic Activity
|
Conformance
|
Animal
order
|
Animals
and
birds
|
(Composition /
decomposition,
respiration) in
body + selection
in ‘I’
|
(Exisetence
+ growth) in
body + will
to live in ‘I’
|
(Composition /
decomposition,
nurture / worsen)
in body + (non
cruelty, cruelty)
in ‘I’
|
(Recognising,
fulfillment) in
body +
(assuming,
recognising,
fulfillment) in
‘I’
|
Breed
conformance
|
Human
order
|
Human
beings
|
(Composition /
decomposition,
respiration) in
body +
(selection,
thought, desire)
in ‘I’
|
(Exisetence
+ growth) in
body + will
to live with
happiness in
‘I’
|
(Composition /
decomposition,
nurture / worsen)
in body +
(perceverance,
bravery,
generosity) in ‘I’
|
Recognising,
fulfillment in
body +
(knowing,
assuming,
recognising,
fulfillment) in
‘I’
|
Right values /
sanskara
conformance
|
Things (Vastu)
Animal order: The animal order is made of various kinds of animals and birds. These entities display both a body (physicochemical activity) as well as a conscious activity (self or ‘I’). The animal order thus is the coexistence of the animal body (pranic order) and the self (or ‘I’ = consciousness).
Human (knowledge) order: The human order is constituted of all the human beings. Each human being is coexistence of the self (‘I’, conscious entity = consciousness) and the body (pranic order).
Activity (Kriya)
Animal Order: Body In Animals – Physico-Chemical Activities: The body displays respiration, or breathing, or pulsating also there is composition/ decomposition in the body.
‘I’ In Animals – Conscious Activities: The activities in ‘I’ are fundamentally different from those in the body. ‘I’ is a unit that has the ability or capacity of assuming. Animals make assumptions. If we have a dog and some strangers come into the house, the dog may start barking at him. If this person stays at our house, the dog may stops barking at him, but will continue to bark at other strangers. What has happened here is that the dog’s ‘assumption’ about this person has changed, due to which; the way in which it responds to the person has changed. We call this assuming.
Human Order: The activities in human body are similar to that in the animal body, i.e. composition/ decomposition and respiration. When it comes to consciousness or ‘I’, however, the human displays more than just an ability to ‘select’ or make choices as animals do. In human beings, ‘I’ has the activities of desiring, thinking, and selecting/tasting, with a possibility or need for understanding and realization. Only humans have this need to know and that is why it is called gyana avastha – the knowledge order.
Innateness (dharana)
Animal Order: The animal body is a development of the pranic order and therefore this order inherits the innateness of ‘existence’ and ‘growth’. This is at the level of the body, which is physicochemical in nature. In addition, all units in this order have the ‘will to live’ in ‘I’. Indeed no unit in this order can be separated from this ‘will to live’. It is intrinsic to every unit in this order.
Human Order: When we look at the human being, we find that ‘existence’ and ‘growth’ are fundamentally present in the body, just as in the animal body. At the level of ‘I’ however, in addition to the ‘will to live’, a human being’s innateness is the ‘will to live with happiness’.
Natural Characteristics (Svabhava)
Animal Order: The body of the animal belongs to the plant/bio or pranic order, and hence has the same ‘usefulness’ or ‘value’ as the pranic order. Thus ‘nurture/worsen’ is the svabhava of the animal body. The svabhava of the self (‘I’) of the animal order is non-cruelty (akrurata) and cruelty (krurata). Cruelty (krurata) means the feeling that it can fulfil its needs through violence and forcefulness. For ex., cows may largely be living with a feeling of non-cruelty (akrurata); while animals like tigers and lions may exhibit cruelty (krurata).
Human Order: Similar as to the case in animals, the human body also belongs to the plant/ bio order and hence has the same svabhava or value/natural characteristic as the pranic order. It either nurtures or worsens other pranic units. As in the example above, when I digest the vegetable, I absorb the plant and it worsens, while my body is nurtured. The svabhava/ value of the self (‘I’) in human beings is perseverance (dhirata), bravery (virata) and generosity (udarata).
1. Perseverance (dhirata): Being assured that the all encompassing solution is to understand and live in harmony at all levels of existence.
2. Bravery (virata): I am ready to help the other to have the right understanding.
3. Generosity (udarata): I am ready to invest myself, my body and wealth to help the other have the right understanding.
Basic Activity:
Animal Order: there is only recognising, and fulfilment in body, and in self (I) there is the basic activity of assuming, recognising, fulfilment.
Human Order: human displays the same basic activity as that of animal body i.e. Recognising, fulfilment, but in self (I) human have one more activity i.e. knowing.
Conformance (Anu-Sangita)
Animal order: Animals conform to their lineage. How animals are, their behaviour is according to their lineage they belong to, the lineage they come from. Hence, we say that an animal conforms to its breed, or has ‘breed conformance’. This breed conformance method is the mechanism by means of which the continuity of an animal species is maintained in nature/existence.
Human (knowledge) order: We humans are not according to our lineage or race, as in animals. We humans are according to our imagination; according to our desires, thoughts and selection in ‘I’. The desires, thoughts and selections we have in ‘I’ can come from past memories, our parents, the environment, and the media, anywhere. In the case of humans, we can say ‘as the education, so the human’. Together, we call these ‘sanskara’. Hence, we say that a human being conforms to his or her sanskar or has ‘sanskaar conformance’.
Q. How will you show interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment in four order of nature with examples?
or
There are four orders in nature. How does each order participate in the harmony in the nature? Give few examples. (UPTU 2010–11)
or
What are the four orders in nature? How can the human order be responsible to the other three orders? (MTU 2010–11)
or
Critically examine the attitude of humans today towards the other three orders of nature. Try to make a proper evaluation of human efforts. (MTU 2010–11)
or
How is the human order related to the other three orders in nature? How does this understanding help in choosing the production activity for a human being? (MTU 2011–12)
Ans: In the nature, all the units are connected to each other and fulfilling each other. Human being is related to all other human beings. On this basis, we have feelings and emotions for everyone. Human being is connected to all the material units in the existence and gets aware of it as he starts exploring it. We can see this interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment in the following diagram:
Material Order and Plant/Bio-Order: The material order provides the nutrients to the plant/bio order in the form of soil, minerals, etc while the plant/ bio order decays and forms more nutrients, thus enriching the soil. The plant/bio order also decays to substances like oil and coal, which are stored deep within the earth as protection against the heat from the molten core inside the earth as well as the heat from the sun (today, this is the material we are removing and using as fuel). Plants help move the nutrients through the various layers of the soil. The roots of the plants hold the soil together and prevent the soil from erosion. Plants produce oxygen/ carbon dioxide and thus help in the movement of the material order. There is a mutual interdependency and co-existence we can see here.
Material Order, Plant/Bio- Order and Animal Order: The material order provides the basis for movement of all animals, birds and fishes. Water, oxygen and other gases are necessities for both plants and animals. At the same time, the animal order helps enrich the soil with its excreta and these excreta help the plants with nutrients. The plant/bio order provides food for animals, birds and fishes. The animal Order helps in pollination of the flowers of the pranic order.
Material Order, Plant/Bio- Order, Animal Order and Human Order: We humans also have a natural acceptance to be mutually fulfilling to these three orders. However, we are not able to ensure this mutual fulfillment. We are dependent on the material order for soil and minerals and metals, but only end up polluting the soil and depleting the fossil fuels; we are dependent on plants for our food and holding together the larger ecosystem, but we have destroyed forests and destroyed multiple species of plants and herbs; we are dependent on animals to carry out our production and transportation activities, but have made many species of animals extinct, and are today known for our cruelty towards animals. We can see that there is interconnectedness and mutual fulfillment in all the orders of nature except human order. We have to work on this.
Q. How can we say that ‘nature is Self Organized and in space Self-Organization Is Available.’
Ans: Every unit is an organization. A unit recognizes other units and combines to form a bigger organization. Starting from the atom, to the big galaxy, this organization goes on, as a self-organization. At every level, we get a self-organization. Sub atomic particles recognize each other and come together to form atoms. Cells recognize each other and form organizations like organs and a body. Planetary bodies, solar systems, galaxies are still bigger organizations. We are not organizing it. We are not supplying it organization from outside.
When we look at humans, we see that we are self-organized at the level of the body. We are not organizing the body. We are not doing anything for the coordination between the heart, kidneys, lungs, eyes, brain, hands, legs, etc. All these are functioning together. Our input is needed only to provide the required nutrition, and to assist the body when we fall sick/get injured. At the level of ‘I’, we are not self-organized, but being in space, self-organization is available to the self (‘I’). That’s why we are in pursuit of happiness, which is essentially being in harmony. Whenever we are not in harmony, we are unhappy. All the units of four orders are self-organized. No one is organizing them from outside. No one is supplying this organization. This self-organization is available to units being in space. Hence, for space, we say ‘self organization is available’.
Q. Define existence? Show that existence is in a form of co-existence.
or
Existence is co-existence of mutually interacting units in all-pervasive space. Explain. (UPTU 2010–11)
or
“Existence = Nature submerged in space” – Elaborate this point.
or
Differentiate between units and space. How are units self-organized in space?
or
What are the various attributes of units and space? Explain each.
or
Write a short note on ‘nature (units) submerged in space’. Explain the meaning of submerged here. (UPTU 2011 - 12)
or
‘Existence is co-existence’. Give your opinion. (UPTU 2011 – 12)
Ans: All the units together constitute nature. All the units of nature exist in space which is an important reality to understand. Existence is nothing but the nature in space.
Existence = Exist + Essence, whatever exists.
¯ ¯
To be harmony
We define unit as something that is limited in size. Like a small blade of human hair to the biggest planets we know of, they are all limited in size, i.e. bounded on six sides. So, all the ‘things’ we have been studying so far: the human beings, animals, lumps of matter as well as various atoms and molecules, are all ‘units’. We can recognize them as such, they are countable.
But there is another ‘reality’ called ‘space’. We normally don’t pay attention to this ‘reality’, because it’s not a ‘unit’. We can’t ‘touch it’, smell it. We normally just ‘see through it’. But the fact is because we can’t ‘touch it’ or ‘see it’ as we would see a unit like our body, our friends, or a piece of rock, doesn’t mean it does not exist. Space exists everywhere. Co-existence is a state in which two or more groups are living together while respecting their differences and resolving their conflicts non-violently. Coexistence has been defined in numerous ways:
1. To exist together (in time or space) and to exist in mutual tolerance.
2. To learn to recognize and live with difference.
3. To have a relationship between persons or groups in which none of the parties is trying to destroy the other.
4. To exist together (in time or place) and to exist in mutual tolerance.
EXISTENCE
Nature submerged in Space
(Collection of units) (Empty)
Limited Unlimited
Active No activity
Energized Equilibrium energy
Recognizes and fulfils the relation All reflecting, transparent
Self organized Self organized is available
Unit All pervasive
Abundance with diversity All pervasive
Consciousness (I) – Nirantar Nitya
Material- Anitya (Ulimited in space and time)
(Niranatar: Limited in space, Unlimited in time, Anitya: Limited in space and time)
When we look at the existence around, the first thing we see is space. And then we see the units in space. Between every two units there is a space. The units exist in space. If we were to define this, we would say that there are two kinds of realities in existence and these are: space and units (in space). So we say,
Existence = space + units (in space)
Since nature consists of the four orders we have been discussing, we can say,
“Existence = Nature submerged in space”.
Nature = Four orders (Material, Plant/Bio or Pranic, Animal and Human Order)
UNIT 5
Q. What are the values in interaction of human beings with the material things? Give one example of each.
or
What is utility value and artistic value? How are both important in human life? Explain with example.
or
'When there is no utility there is no scope for art too'. Explain.
Ans: Competence of living in accordance with universal human values or the participation of a unit in the larger order- its natural characteristics or svabhava. Values are a part of our ethical conduct. They are the natural outcome of realization and right understanding, which are always definite. Values need not to be imposed through fear, greed or blind belief. The vastu mulya (values of Human Being in the Interaction with the Rest of the Nature) is the participation of the human being with the rest of the nature. It is further categorized as:
1. Utility Value (Upyogita Mulya): The participation of human being in ensuring the role of physical facility in nurture, protection and providing means for the body.
2. Artistic value (kala mulya): The participation of a human being in ensuring the role of physical facility to help and preserve its utility.
For example, the utility value of a pen is that it aids in writing. This provides a means to the body.
Providing a cap to the pen so that the ink does not spill, a proper design for holding of the pen while writing, etc. preserve the utility of the pen. A shirt has the utility that it protects the body. This is its utility value. Designing the shirt so that it can be easily put on is the artistic value.
Q. What do you understand by definitiveness of ethical human conduct? Why is this definitiveness desirable?
or
What do you mean by definitiveness of ethical human conduct? How can it be ensured? (UPTU 2011–12)
Ans: The right understanding gained through self-exploration also enables us to identify the definitiveness of human conduct which may also be called the ethical human conduct. It is the same for all human beings.
So we are also able to understand the universality of ethical human conduct which is in consonance with the universal human values. Each one of us wants to have a definite conduct but presently we may not be able to ensure that. This is because we are presently living on the basis of our pre-conditionings or assumptions which are not in consonance with the truth or the right understanding. But, this situation neither gives satisfaction to us not to others. We do see the human beings struggling to find out what the right conduct is and in the process, exhibiting a wide variety of attributes. We also see people debating endlessly about what they consider to be ethical. But unless we have the right understanding, we are not able to identify the definitiveness of ethical human conduct. It can be understood in terms of the following:
1. Values (Mulya): Competence of living in accordance with universal human values or the participation of a unit in the larger order- its natural characteristics or svabhava is known as values. Values are a part of our ethical conduct.
2. Policy (Niti): policy is the decision (plan, program, implementation, results, evaluation) about the enrichment, protection and right utilization of the resources (self, body and wealth – mana, tana and dhana).
3. Character (Charitra): The definiteness of my desire, thought and selection gives definiteness to my living. Definitiveness of character is the outcome of the definiteness of my behavior and work.
Q. What do you mean by professional ethics?
Ans: Professional ethics means to develop professional competence with ethical human conduct. Ethical human conduct means definitiveness of human conduct. Ethical human conduct is the foundation of professional ethics. The only effective way to ensure professional ethics is through correct appraisal and systematic development of ethical competence in the professional (the human being). Profession is a significant domain of human activity targeted towards participating in the larger order which includes the society and nature around. Thus, it is a meaningful participation for each one in one or more of the five domains of human endeavor needed for a harmonious society. Ethical conduct of profession implies the right utilization of one’s professional skills towards the fulfilment of comprehensive human goal and thus, meaningfully participates in the larger order. Professional ethics may be defined as a form of applied ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment.
Professional ethics concerns the moral issues that arise because of the specialist knowledge that professionals attain, and how the use of this knowledge should be governed when providing a service to the public.
Q. What do you mean by competence in professional ethics? Elaborate with examples.
or
What do you understand by competence in professional ethics? Give two examples of its implications in industry. (MTU 2010 – 11)
Ans: Professional ethics means to develop professional competence with ethical human conduct.
Developing ethical competence in the individual (profession) is the only effective way to ensure professional ethics. The development of ethical competence is a long term process to be achieved through appropriate value education. As profession is only a subset of the life activities, the competence in profession will only be the manifestation of one’s right understanding. The salient features characterizing this competence can be summarized as follows:
1. Clarity about comprehensive human goal: Samadhan – Samridhi – Abhay – Sah-astitva, and its fulfilment through universal human order.
2. Confidence in oneself: Based on the right understanding of oneself and the rest of existence.
3. Mutually fulfilling behavior: Clarity and confidence in ethical human conduct and its correlation with sustained personal as well as collective happiness and prosperity.
4. Mutually enriching interaction with nature: Self-sufficiency in fulfilment of physical needs; ability to assess the needs for physical facilities for the family and their fulfilment through production systems ensuring harmony in the nature. In the light of the above, one acquires the ability to identify and develop appropriate (people-friendly and eco-friendly) technologies, production systems etc.
Q. What do you mean by ‘universal human order’?
or
What is your vision of a universal human order? Write in your own words. (UPTU 2010– 11)
or
What do you mean by universal human order? What are its implications? (MTU 2011 – 12)
Ans: Universal human order (sarvabhauma vyavastha) is a feeling of being related to every unit including human beings and other entities of nature. Having understood the comprehensive human goal, we are able to be in harmony not only with human beings, but also with the rest of the nature. We are able to see that we are related to every unit in nature and ensure mutual fulfilment in that relationship. On the bases of understanding of harmony, we get the notion of an undivided society and universal human order. The universal human order will comprise of:
1. The five dimensions of human endeavor (education, health etc.) towards a fragmented society.
2. The steps of organization from family to world family, each anchored in right understanding will integrated in the following way:
Family Þ family cluster Þ village / community Þ village cluster Þ Þ Þworld family
Q. What are the implications of value based living at all four levels of living? Explain. (UPTU 2009-10)
ANS. The implications of value-based living can be studied in the following terms:
1. At the level of the individual – Transition towards happiness and prosperity will take place at the individual level. It will instil self-confidence, spontaneous joyfulness, peace, contentment and bliss in the self, and also perseverance, bravery and generosity in living of the individual.
2. At the level of the family - Mutual fulfilment in relationships, prosperity in the family, sustenance of joint families, family as the building block of societal order in place of law enforcing bodies, respect for all without differentiation on the basis of age, gender, caste, race, money, post, creed, etc.
3. At the level of the society – Fearlessness in the society, holistic systems for education, health, justice, production, exchange and storage, harmony between nations, world growing as a family.
4. At the level of nature – Co-existence of all units in nature, earth getting more and more suited for sustenance of all entities on the globe, balance of seasons, proper development
Q. What would be the pragmatic implications of value-based living at the four levels? Briefly explain.
Ans: The implications of value based living can be understood in the following terms:
1. At the level of the individual – Achieve happiness, peace, contentment and bliss in the self, perseverance, bravery and generosity in living of the individual. The individual get rid of the tensions, frustrations, depression, and other such situations
2. At the level of the family - Mutual fulfillment in relationships, prosperity in the family, sustenance of joint families, family as the building block of societal order in place of law enforcing bodies, respect for all without differentiation on the basis of age, gender, caste, race, money, post, creed, etc.
3. At the level of the society – Fearlessness in the society, holistic systems for education, health, justice, production, exchange and storage, harmony between nations, world growing as a family. Differentiations on the basis of body, physical facilities and beliefs will be reduced.
4. At the level of nature – Co-existence of all units in nature, earth getting more and more suited for sustenance of all entities on the globe, balance of seasons, proper development. The problems of pollution and resource depletion can be solved.
Q. How do the current world views lead to contradictions and dilemmas in professional life? – Explain.
Ans: Contradictions and Dilemmas: We can understand more clearly through examples how the contradictions and dilemmas are inherently generated by the prevailing worldview in which wealth maximization is perceived to be the prime objective. In such a paradigm, ‘your loss is my gain’. Thus the other person’s happiness seems to be in conflict with my happiness. In that case, the other people have to be exploited for one to gain affluence and there is no possibility of mutual fulfilment in a sustainable way. In the same way, exploitation of nature also becomes acceptable as it helps a person to accumulate wealth easily and there is no limit to this. Let us analyze how such a world view affects the propensity of people in different professions. Take the example of business circles, whenever there is a scarcity of commodity due to say – monsoon failure or other natural disturbances or wars etc, the people in general are in distress and need succour; however in such a situation the businessmen endowed with materialistic world view will feel elated and look at it as an opportunity to make maximum profit. They feel that the market is ‘improving’ and they should take the maximum advantage of it, even accentuate it by hoarding and black marketing to serve their objective. Thus the interest of such businessmen and the consumers in general come in direct conflict. While in reality they are expected to be mutually complementary. In a similar way, ethical practices like adulteration and spurious production etc. are also adopted in an attempt to increase profits- albeit at the cost of greatly endangering public health and safety. An interesting example of the prevailing dichotomy is evident in the advertisements that we daily come across, particularly in case of various evidently harmful products like cigarettes, pan masala etc. Where on one hand, the use of these products is highly glamorized to attract the consumers and in the end there is an inconspicuous statutory warning indicating that the use of these products is injurious to health. Thus there is clear tendency of making profits by promoting the sale of the products which are injurious to public health. In such a situation the dilemma as to how much importance is to be given to one’s profit and how much to the welfare always remains unresolved.
Q. What do you understand by holistic technology? Briefly explain.
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What is a holistic technology? Take any two such examples from the Indian tradition and elaborate on them. (UPTU 2011 - 12)
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Describe briefly the criteria for evaluation of holistic technology. Support your answer with an example. (MTU 2011 – 12)
Ans: The modern technologies and systems are all human inventions in response to the needs visualized under the influence of the prevailing worldview. Accordingly, they have been designed and optimized to the objective functions best suited to this world view. In order to facilitate the development of holistic technologies and systems, it will be necessary to visualize alternative objective functions and to formulate appropriate criteria for evaluation compatible with comprehensive human goal. Generally speaking, there are three broad criteria to guide the development of such technologies and systems, viz.
a. Catering to appropriate needs and lifestyles,
b. People-friendly, and
c. Eco-friendly.
Criteria for Technologies
The above mentioned general criteria can be itemized into more specific form as follows:
1. Catering to real human needs
2. Compatible with natural systems and cycles
3. Facilitating effective utilization of human body, animals, plants and materials
4. Safe, user-friendly and conducive to health
5. Producible with local resources and expertise as far as possible
6. Promoting the use of renewable energy resources
7. Low cost and energy efficient
8. Enhancing human interaction and cooperation
Q. Give a critical review of the current management models in profession.
Ans: If we really wish to gain an insight into the holistic systems, we have a lot to learn from systems of nature and from traditional practices. With modern developments in science and technology, and their widespread application, an impression has grown that the nature is primarily for exploitation as per the whims and fancies of human beings, the nature has to be tamed/controlled and exploited for human enjoyment. Further, it is believed that the systems in nature are all primitive and have to be replaced by man-made systems. This is how one looks at ‘development’. Similarly, it is also believed that the traditional practices are all obsolete and have to be rejected outright. This arrogant attitude towards nature and the traditional know-how has caused much damage to humanity in recent times. It is high time we critically examine these beliefs and rectify them in the light of right understanding. In reality, nature is not only our nourisher but also a learning ground. The human beings are an integral part of this self-sustaining nature and it is essential to understand its functioning and systems to live in harmony with it. After all, it is only by diligent study of nature that all the laws and principles governing various processes have been discovered by human beings. In a similar way, the systems and cycles of nature also need to be understood and emulated as required in man-made designs. Then only, we can correctly visualize and evolve the holistic way of living.
As for the traditional practices, it is true that with increase in knowledge and skills, and with changing needs, it is necessary to make improvisations in technologies and systems of human use, however, in order to do that it is essential to critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. It is important to identify the characteristics which have enabled the traditional practices to serve humanity for long periods. The eco-friendly and people-friendly characteristics of many traditional practices are very much worthy of our recognition and retention. Then we will be in a better position to utilize our present day knowledge to augment the systems and make them more effective, efficient and more suited to current needs. For example, we can learn a lot from the traditional practices of eco-friendly agriculture techniques, watershed management, eco-restoration, herbal formulations, preservation techniques, and artisanal practices and so on. It does not amount to going backwards but rather enables us to avail from the vast storehouse of wisdom and experience so that we become better prepared to take the leap forward in the right direction.