CONTEMPORARY ISSUES CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

of debate inof debate in SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

of debate inof debate in SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Dr. D NesyDr. D NesyProf & HeadProf & Head

Dept. of Philosophy, University of Kerala, Dept. of Philosophy, University of Kerala, India.India.

Why Social Philosophy?

• Our goal is a healthy, happy and satisfactory life based on values and ideals.

• Peace, freedom, justice and welfare of all peoples is our dream

• Science and technology has given prodigious mechanical power and material prosperity.

• Debates on the gap between the factual and the normative, ‘is’ and the ‘ought’, the way in which society has been functioning and how it should function are important in this context.

I. MulticulturalismI. Multiculturalism

“ Products are conceived in one country, designed in another, manufactured in a third using components from half a dozen others and sold world wide. Relationships between organizations and individuals in different countries are not only those of supplier, customer and competitor but of ownership, partnership and alliance, of advisor and facilitator”.

Implications..Implications..• People from different cultural and religious

backgrounds• People who do not understand one

another’s patterns of thought• Are required to work together in

constructive and harmonious partnerships• Where mutual trust is very much in need• Respect for the marginalized and minority

groups and the problem of language.

2. Science and Technology2. Science and Technology• “The world has achieved brilliance

without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than about peace; more about killing than we know about living”.

3. Environment3. Environment• Are we morally obligated to respect

the environment?• What obligations do we have to the

future generations?• Anthropocentrism versus non-

anthropocentrism or Bio-centrism or Eco-centrism?

4. Equality and Justice4. Equality and Justice• Normative foundations of equality

and justice• Justice when resources are scarce

and recipients are many.• Question of development-

quantitative / qualitative• Human development, sustainable

development or alternative development

Equality and Justice…Equality and Justice…• Changing role of religion. • Development• Peace• Not in war and conflicts.

Case I Clinical Trials in IndiaCase I Clinical Trials in India• The Drugs and Cosmetic Industry in India

earned a revenue of $70 million in 2004 and is expected to be $1 billion in 2010.

• In January 2005 the Drugs and Cosmetic Act was amended to allow multi-centric trials to be conducted in India.

• “Next big thing after IT” but it is forgotten that IT deals with inanimate computers and peripherals but CT involves humans.

Problems..Problems..• Ineffective Institutional Committees

(IES)• Informed Consent• Patient Protection• Money Factor• Post Trial Commitments

Case 2. EnvironmentCase 2. Environment• Indian concept of family: not necessarily nuclear, provides vital support in practical,

material and psychological realms and forms our most important social duty and obligation.

• It extends even to clan or sub-caste, friends and neighbors.

• We take care of those who are dear and near and remain indifferent to the rest.

• Proud of the sumptuous luxury apartments and immediate habitat.

• Acute sense of personal hygiene with two baths a day.

• Land of tree huggers and chipko andolan

Environment..Environment..

Lack of civic culture with dirty and garbage Lack of civic culture with dirty and garbage strewn public places, path-holed and neglected strewn public places, path-holed and neglected streets, vandalized or dis- functioning public streets, vandalized or dis- functioning public amenities.amenities.

De forestation and over cultivation, un treated De forestation and over cultivation, un treated effluents, reeking and over flowing sewages, effluents, reeking and over flowing sewages, more and more cars on the already congested more and more cars on the already congested roads and more and more toxins and poisons roads and more and more toxins and poisons flowing in to air and water… flowing in to air and water…

Environment…Environment…

Development is taking placeDevelopment is taking place

Environment ? Environment ?

Development versus Development versus EnvironmentEnvironment

• The first test case in the country of The first test case in the country of the conflict between the needs of the conflict between the needs of development and environment. development and environment.

• The state of Kerala was the first to The state of Kerala was the first to elect communist party to power by elect communist party to power by ballot in the world as far back as ballot in the world as far back as 1957. 1957.

Case 3- Silent ValeeyCase 3- Silent Valeey• Kerala is the classical paradox withKerala is the classical paradox with• Near-total literacy, few infant mortality, Near-total literacy, few infant mortality,

abundant skilled people etc.abundant skilled people etc.• Abysmal economic development particularly Abysmal economic development particularly

industrial growthindustrial growth• Widespread unemploymentWidespread unemployment• Silent Valley hydro electric project proposed Silent Valley hydro electric project proposed

in 1970s to dam the Kunthipuzha river and in 1970s to dam the Kunthipuzha river and generate 120 mwts of power using the water generate 120 mwts of power using the water otherwise flowing ‘wastefully’ to the Arabian otherwise flowing ‘wastefully’ to the Arabian sea. sea.

• Lack of industry because of the lack of power. Lack of industry because of the lack of power.

Silent Valley…Silent Valley…• Unique strip of forest uninhabited even by tribals in Unique strip of forest uninhabited even by tribals in

the Western ghats.the Western ghats.• Possessed many types of flora and fauna including a Possessed many types of flora and fauna including a

very rare primate, the lion-tailed macaque.very rare primate, the lion-tailed macaque.• Internationally recognized as one of the ‘hot spots’ of Internationally recognized as one of the ‘hot spots’ of

bio diversity in the globe. bio diversity in the globe. • Marked by the presence of the priceless plants such Marked by the presence of the priceless plants such

as the wild variety of rice that contains genes that as the wild variety of rice that contains genes that can resist pests which attack new high-yielding can resist pests which attack new high-yielding varieties of rice. varieties of rice.

• Natural store house with incalculable economic Natural store house with incalculable economic benefit.benefit.

• The Silent valley hydro electric project raised a fierce The Silent valley hydro electric project raised a fierce controversy. controversy.

Silent valley…Silent valley…

• Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), a Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), a group of Science teachers and other group of Science teachers and other progressive professionals banded together progressive professionals banded together to take a close look at the pros and cons of to take a close look at the pros and cons of the project. the project.

• Scientific books translated in to Malayalam, Scientific books translated in to Malayalam, the native language. the native language.

• Started engaging debates about Started engaging debates about environment and development. environment and development.

• Assessed the economic and ecological Assessed the economic and ecological values of preserving this this unique region.values of preserving this this unique region.

Continue…Continue…

• National and international protestsNational and international protests• Global environmental organizations like the Global environmental organizations like the

World Wild Life Fund and International Union World Wild Life Fund and International Union for conservation of Nature intervened. for conservation of Nature intervened.

• Interestingly, the Kerala State Electricity Interestingly, the Kerala State Electricity Board asked the protesters: “Are monkeys Board asked the protesters: “Are monkeys more important than men?”more important than men?”

• Finally the Supreme Court put its foot down Finally the Supreme Court put its foot down for the attempts of politicians and for the attempts of politicians and industrialists to de reserve the national parks industrialists to de reserve the national parks and exploiting the natural resources. and exploiting the natural resources.

Continue…Continue…

• The Central Govt. decided to call off The Central Govt. decided to call off the project andthe project and

• The issue was resolved in favor of the The issue was resolved in favor of the environmentalists to preserve this rain environmentalists to preserve this rain forests in western ghats. forests in western ghats.

• Silent Valley was declared a National Silent Valley was declared a National Park.Park.

Conclusion…Conclusion…

• Human beings aspire for wholesome lives.Human beings aspire for wholesome lives.• Abundant power is at his disposalAbundant power is at his disposal• Issues of peace and war, poverty and Issues of peace and war, poverty and

abundance and conflicts of racial and abundance and conflicts of racial and political nature confront him from every political nature confront him from every side. side.

• A scientific and critical attitude to A scientific and critical attitude to problems will create a new thinking problems will create a new thinking pattern. pattern.

• THANK YOU!THANK YOU!