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CHAPTER 11
RELEVANCE OF ANEKĀNTA IN
MODERN TIMES
Ramjee Singh
Modern times is an era of crisis in the realm of human civilization. The reason is that we give so much attention to short-range and local problems that long range and global problems continue to be neglected. Secondly, life has become more intricately interdependent and complex. So simpler solutions no longer suffice. A world civilization is fast emerging and we cannot afford to solve our problems with a parochial temper and sectarian outlook. For human survival. we need human cooperation on a planetary scale able to deal with rapidly increasing complexities. The critical problems are so complex that we need a philosophy equally complex to grapple with them. One dimensional man in a multidimensional world-crisis will be out of joint. Interexistence is the positive option for mankind. Either there is organic growth of mankind or there is organic destruction of human civilization. At any time in history it is impossible to convert all of mankind not only to Christianity, or Islam or Jainism (or to Communism, or Capitalism or any other isms), but also to some metaphysical principles which we have been cherishing since antiquity. The growth of scientific knowledge and outlook has destroyed most of our false dogmas and superstitions, not only that but it has failed to provide us knowledge that could sublimate our animal and selfish nature. Animality has been dominating our individual as well as social behaviour. Hence, our life has become full of tensions, turmoils and
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