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Philosophy of Dr. Radhakrishnan
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action by his inner nature. If an individual's action is based on his character, it cannot be called a free action. Radhakrishnan is aware of such difficulty and that is why he explains the meaning of the word, self-determination. Selfdetermination means action done by the whole of the self's nature. If an action is done by habit, viz., drinking of wine, the entire self is not employed in this act. It is only a fragment of self's nature which compels him to drink. There is no self-determination in this act. Only that action is free or self-determined in which "the individual employs his whole nature, searches the different possibilities and selects one which commends itself to his whole self.''36
The past is not an obstacle but beneficial to us, if we utilize it. There is order and regularity in the universe, and we are compelled and determined to a great extent. But we have also sufficient freedom. Dr. Radhakrishnan tells us that our life is like the game of cards. The cards are given to us, and so we are determined by them. But the victory depends on how we play. A good player utilises his cards in a good manner but a bad player may have good cards but he may not be able to utilise his cards. In the beginning, the player is more free, he may start from any point but gradually his actions get determined. Similarly, we are determined by our past deeds, character, mode of thinking, sentiments etc. But we are also free to play our parts by making the best of what we have in possession. And so, man is free.
Dr. Radhakrishnan dispels two misconceptions. Firstly, the theory of Karma is not a mere mechanism of reward and punishment. The reward of virtue is not always pleasure nor sin necessarily results in pain. It has been traced out that there is suffering in love and satisfaction in hatred. Hence, it is not necessary that good karmas always result in material well-being and evil in torture.
Secondly, it is also misleading that moral or virtuous actions lead us to success and evil to failure. The misfortune depends on disorder, weaknesses, and many other external factors. Men are like the birds which are trapped in a cage. They break their heads against the iron walls but in vain. Dr. Radhakrishnan says, “Thousands of young men the world over are breaking
