Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
View full book text
________________
and 'self-perfection'. We may call the former pair secular or empirical values, and the latter spiritual. Philosophy is generally concerned with the two higher values of Dharma and Moksha and the correct means to realise them; at the same time, it also considers the nature of the other two values in order to show how they are inferior. Philosophy, as conceived in India, may also be defined as a criticism of values.
The Hitopadesa says that hunger, sleep, fear and sex are common to man and beasts. It is jnana that specially characterises man; and when they lack it, they become one with the beasts. Whenever man sets about the satisfaction of his needs, he necessarily knows beforehand about it. A child is not aware of the need for its food, but yet is seeks satisfaction from its mother's breast. "The presupposition of knowledge is only the distinguishing mark of values sought by man, as such, and it is they that are to be understood by the term Purushartha," says Hiriyanna. It is this idea of perfection along with that of Purushartha that makes man a spiritual being. But the awareness of it does not necessarily mean that he will work for its realisation. There is always a normative relation between the final good and a self-conscious agent..
Consciousness of higher values are lacking in most persons who cling to their lower self and instincts. It is in determining the true nature of the self that the idea of truth' and of the higher values, arises. Often the words value and ideal are thought to be similar but it is not the case so. Ideals are merely the constructions of the mind and they may or may not be achieved. On the other hand, values express an actual relationship to the purpose of the person thinking of them.
The Indians speak of four fundamental values of life-namely, Kama, Artha, Dharma and Moksha. Let us explain each of these in detail.
Kama means pleasure arising out of the satisfaction of sex instinct and of aesthetic taste. Life in the absence the pursuit of Kama is a burden. All Kama-desires are biological urges, which demand their satisfaction at proper times of the development of human beings. If it is not enjoyed it leads to frustration. In cases of repression, they generate various mental problems. Western psychologists like Freud and others believe that such urges are important sources of our active social life and must be given proper place in the scheme of human living.
All Kama pleasures have certain emotions. When these emotions get organized they become things of satisfaction or pleasure for us. Anger, jealousy, etc., are some of the emotions which arise in our minds when the objects are not acquired by us. Kama or pleasure may be of various kinds. To cite an example we may get pleasure from listening to music, looking at a piece of art or seeing a good dance performance. "All that is beautiful is pleasant. Pleasure arising from the enjoyment of beautiful objects is Kama."
380
