Neha Sharma
Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of English & Other European Languages, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, M.P.
Abstract:
“More science and technology are not going to get us out of the present ecologic crisis until we find a new religion, or rethink our old one”, says Lynn White, an American Historian in one of his lectures titled, The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis which was later published in the journal Science in the year 1967. White’s article ignited debates within academic, theological and environmental circles about the historical, cultural and religious factors that have contributed to humanity’s impact on environment. Human civilisation has made commendable advancements in the field of technology, energy, medicine, agriculture, industry, environment etc, but because of such rapid advancements, the earth’s sustenance and health have also been compromised. The Earth is further prone to severe vulnerability if we do not embrace quick and intensive changes with regard to how we go about our lives. We must therefore begin to ask far-reaching ecological questions of religious traditions to our newfound ecological awareness demands as they are the soul foundation of our existence.
“India is the cradle of those religious traditions to which much environmental philosophy appeals in its struggle to develop a new ethical perspective that might be adequate to the present environmental crisis”, says George Alfred James in his paper titled, The Construction of India in Some Recent Environmental Philosophy, published in 1998 in a journal named Worldviews. India being the oldest extant civilization of the world, is rich in religious and cultural traditions. Indian cultural tradition stands unique in the sense that it has contributed immensely to all branches of knowledge whether it is science, politics, economics, arts, religion, etc. From the environmental point of view the Indian cultural tradition provides ideological impetus to environment and suggests to maintain a harmonious and holistic relation between man and nature. Environment in Indian thought is treated as a living entity instead of a physical one, where humans are one among many living creatures.
This paper aims to explore the fundamental thought of ancient India particularly Upanishadic ideology from environmental perspective, where human is not at the centre and hence do not have any authority to exploit nature. In the first section, I plan to discuss the emergence of environmental philosophy in the academic discipline and how environmental philosophy is constructed in the Indian context. While in the second section, I aim to explore the concept of nature or prakriti in the Upanishadic thought and what does it suggest on the ethical aspects through philosophical dialogues and stories embedded in the select Upanisads. In the third section, I further aim to interpret and develop new ethical perspectives which in turn can provide us better understanding of environment and can help in bringing fruitful changes for the holistic and sustainable development of the planet Earth.
Full Text:
Eco-philosophy and Environmental Ethical Concerns in the Upaniṣad
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