ABOUT THE BOOK:
The present book rests on three observations, i.e. Confucianism, which is moralistic; Taoism, which is naturalistic/materialistic; and the Buddhism which is metaphysical in nature.
The esoteric School in Philosophy tends to regard the human being as basically good. This basic goodness cannot be brought by rules and methods. The Taoists are esoteric according to whom any activity which distorts basic and natural goodness will lead to imperfection. The exoteric schools tend to see mankind as basically evil, ‘fallen’ from the state of perfect harmony. These schools believe in scriptures or the doctrines of venerated teachers to restore harmony in the society. Confucius preached humanism, family value and love which will lead to social stability. Social stability is vital for political stability. Confucius teachings are relevant even today for social and political stability. Dr Ramanujam has given equal weightage to Neo-Confucianism, impact of Chinese philosophy on Japan, Korea and the modern period and recent trends in Chinese philosophy too.
Sun-Yat-Sen, who is called the father of China, attempted a synthesis of Western Philosophical concepts with Chinese tradition and laid the foundation for modern China. Mao-Tse-Tung’s communist revolution brought about social and political changes in China. In a nutshell, the book is exhaustive and will find it worth-reading, worth-remembering and worth-reciting and quoting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr A. Appan Ramanujam (b. 1947) did his B.Sc. (Physics) from Madurai University and M.A. (Philosophy) and Ph.D. from Annamalai University. He was awarded the Junior Research Fellowship by the U.G.C in 1976. Apart from research papers, articles and scripts on philosophical topics, he delivered lectures on Philosophy of Science. Starting his career as a Demonstrator in Physics (1969-1971) at A.J. College, Sivakasi, he retired as a Head of the Department of Philosophy, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai in 2006. His main interests are Ethics, Psychology, Western Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Vaisnavism. He participated as a symposiast at the 79th session of the Indian Philosophical Congress held at Madurai College, Madurai on Values in Education in 2004 and at the World Philosophy Congress held at Delhi University, New Delhi on Justice in 2006. The All India Sattada Srivaisnava Association has conferred on him the title “Vaisnava Kula Bhushana” for his original contribution to Vaisnavism. He was the Director of the National Seminar, “Indian Philosophical Heritage: A Re-understanding”, March 2006, sponsored by Indian Council of Philosophical Research (I.C.P.R), New Delhi, held at R.K.M. Vivekananda College, Chennai. He was invited to deliver the Acharya Tulsi Endowment Lectures in January 2007 by the Department of Jainology, University of Madras. |
