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Philosophy of Dr. Radhakrishnan
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But Dr. Radhakrishnan explains that finite aspect of man has a reality so long as man remains copfined to that extent. But that is not his final nature. Here, one may raise a question by pointing out that if finite aspect of man is ultimately to be transcended, they are not real. But Dr. Radhakrishnan says that finite aspects are real only in the sense in which 'a stage' of any process of development is real. Unless the stages are crossed, the goal cannot be reached. He explains this difficulty by giving an example of mile-post. If we are travelling on a road, we have to cross various mile-posts. But it does not that the mile-post crossed before becomes unreal as soon is crossed. But it has to be realised that if one decides to stay at a particular mile-post, he cancels his onward march. Thus the mile-post is a stage and not the goal.
Dr. Radhakrishnan tries to prove the reality of finite soul in different ways. First, even in this stage we get unity and order. The bodily aspect also shows unity. It is not that the bodily aspect is chaotic. For example, every organism grows in and through changes and yet it remains identical with itself and shows unity. Had it not been so, the medical sciences would not have succeeded in their attempts to determine the bodily functions. It points out that there are ends beyond the bodily stage.
Secondly, the embodied individual is somehow aware that he is capable of going higher than the bodily stage. He is aware of his limitations, and yet he somehow realises that he can surpass the limitations. Dr. Radhakrishnan says, “Man's awareness of his finiteness and temporality means his consciousness of eternity."25
The bod
The Infinite Soul
So far, we have seen that the finite side of man's nature consists of physical and biological nature of the individual. We have also seen that in the aspect man is always aware of a beyond, which impels him to transcend his bodily aspects. Hence, an analysis of this capacity of self will reveal the true nature of the soul. This aspect of man cannot be determined. Therefore, it is higher than that of the empirical,