In Search of A New Wisdom: A Philosophy for the Brave World

About the book
A central drive of the western man has been to encourage a schism or cleavage between the world of Pristine nature (existing without human interference) and culture or pre-eminently a world of human artefacts. Such a distinction has eventually guided human endeavour towards unrestrained and unwanted exploitation of the planet. Fortunately, as a reaction to the aforesaid mainstream European anthropocentricity, ecology as a science has evolved to initiate a new understanding of humanity by focussing on the significance of intrinsic value of nature and the need to develop a non-hierarchical world order. Subsequently, quite akin to the science of ecology a new ethics which can more appropriately be termed as environmental ethics has also emerged and has attained a global dimension in the recent centuries. In fact, ecology complemented with this new ethics of environment have tried to explore the need to develop a holistic world view by endorsing the values of unity amidst diversity, organic growth and mutual interdependence. The book titled “In Search of a New Wisdom – A Philosophy for the Brave World” attempts to go beyond traditional anthropocentricity and tries to imbibe a deep and reflective awareness about the world and reality to equip us to develop a comprehensive world view, making us aware of our obligations to nature and all her beings. The book also proposes to remind our responsibilities and raise our social awareness regarding diverse social and moral problems, emphasising the need to develop a new holistic ethics by inculcating the spirit of identity and oneness with nature. With this aim the aforesaid venture also wants to make a critical analysis of the Buddhist tradition of compassion; Gandhian appeal towards a mutually interdependent world followed by an exploration of the insights and observations of ecofeminism and also remembering how anthropocentricity differs from non-anthropocentricity that eventually gave birth to a debate between nature and culture. Finally, the project ends with a new concept of empowerment and development that will ultimately help us to step beyond the limitations and confinements of man-centric thoughts. Such an initiative the author hopes will help to replace at least partially the dominating moral ideologies and social theories which have unfortunately transformed our earth into the preserve of rapacious species by an alternative vision of an egalitarian society and more precisely a transformed humanity which will spontaneously encourage all beings of the earth to live and flourish by ensuring a journey beyond anthropocentricity.