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Ecocentric Approach of Science from the Perspective of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore: Exploring Sustainability and Ethics amidst British Colonialism

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Title Ecocentric Approach of Science from the Perspective of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore: Exploring Sustainability and Ethics amidst British Colonialism
 
Creator P.A, SABAREESH
A.L, REETA SONY
 
Subject Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Rabindranath Tagore
Hind Swaraj
Ecocentricism
Universality
Sustainability
Science and Technology
Anthropocentrism
 
Description 121-131
Just as the ‘Renaissance’ in Europe led to a stronger urge in the
individuals to explore new avenues of arts and science there was
also a spurt in gradual scientific inventions and technological
interventions. Much importantly the invention of the steam engine
revolutionised Europe’s industries and transportation in terms of
speed and efficiency. The demand for finished goods propelled
the European nations, particularly Britain, to explore trade options
for the importing of raw materials from overseas, including India,
which later took the shape of colonial political plundering amidst
regional political instabilities in the Indian sub-continent. The
British imperialism, mercantilism, forced cultivation of cash
crops, exploitative trade practices, procurement of raw materials
from the sub-continent and elsewhere, selling of foreign products
at exorbitant prices and colonial superiority were all intended to
support the fledgling industrial development of the British
homeland.
This unmindful nature of unsustainable development gave rise
to a fresh era of ethical and moral questioning, particularly by
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore as to
‘what science and development should stand for?’ Gandhi’s
questioning of the British on these lines evolved into the
nationalistic tone of ‘Hind Swaraj’ while Tagore’s views employ
the context of ‘Universality’. The paper discusses the perspectives
of Gandhi and Tagore as to whether the applications of science
and technology should be ecocentric i.e. taking into concern the environmental, humanitarian and ethical aspects or should it be
anthropocentric i.e. development and exploitative centric.
The paper also details the humanitarianism emphasised by
Gandhi and Tagore from the Indian philosophical perspective and
sustainability in the possible role that science and technology can
actually play in ‘real human advancement’.
 
Date 2022-07-27T10:18:31Z
2022-07-27T10:18:31Z
2022-06
 
Type Article
 
Identifier 2278-2796 (Online); 2278-2788 (Print)
http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/60160
 
Language en
 
Publisher NIScPR-CSIR, India
 
Source JST Vol.10(1-2) [January-June 2022]