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
________________
However, in the present age, through the canges of outlook and thought the idea of old Naturalism and Absolutism have undergone great changes. Today Neo-Naturalism accepts the human value and the personality of man. Again the idea of concrete universal established by modern Absolutists supplies the opportunity for the development of human personality. In the background of this changing outlook if we explain different modern ideas of Humanism in culture/ we may get its two forms either anthropocentric or divine. The former accepts individual man as his own centre and the centre of everything. But special emphasis on individual man increases his ego which is responsible for the dualism of self and not-self or different limitations, contradictions and imperfections of cultures. For this emphasis upon the individual interest is denounced and the importance of collective interest in the form of creative universality as the expression of divinity in man is accepted. Work for one's own interest creates ego that creates contradictions in life and society. But work for others through unconditional love develops a selfless feeling or disinterested outlook in man that urges him to be related to all intimately and thus he realises his potential universality, which, in the real state of freedom, expresses a creative socio-cultural unity in life and existence.
Here lies the true nature or social significance of culture which projects, the universal view of socio-culture unity. Culture has both individual and social or material and non-material significance. Too much emphasis upon individuality or materiality, creates conflicts or contradictions. History provides many of such antagonisms. But the Social or non-material culture which is 'to develop the personality of man’ is to develop his infinite or spiritual nature that helps him to transcend the conflicts or contradictions in existence. In art, literature, music and philosophy, as non-material programmes, man can reveal his infinite nature through which he can cross the limits or differences and can reconcile the differences or contradictions through the development of inter-cultural perspective in the form of developing the creative spirit of unity in diversities.
In this background it may be noted that culture has an universal appeal to transcend the limits of space and time and for this particular culture can appeal to another culture or community in spite of political differences. Political rivalry can not increase cultural rivalry and that is why the finer creation of art, music and philosophy, in particular culture, are universally appreciated by other cultures and finally become the properties of all cultures or nations. For this the Socio-cultural exchange through the intercommunications of ideas and outlook, promoting social and international unity, becomes an intercultural process
f fostering international understanding and peace.
671
