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Perspective
Does Advanced Knowledge give
Power to Solve Human Problems?by TA Ramesh
 To
know oneself, the world, Nature, Universe and God, knowledge is needed.
Thinking over them and understanding the truth behind them makes one’s
knowledge powerful. Thinking over the good and the bad aspects of one’s
knowledge and following the good ones in life would make one virtuous.
Next knowledge only tells us what duty has to be done, how life has to
be lived and what ambition should be had to achieve total freedom and
happiness in life and after life. Therefore knowledge is most important
and first needed more than anything else in this world.
Fear and Love
Fear is due to ignorance. Knowingly or unknowingly due to ignorance,
fear and urgency people do a lot of mistakes, crimes and sin. To fight
against fear and eliminate it, it is always the better way to love
knowledge to know the truth. That is why knowledge is virtue; knowledge
is power. So, only when one is virtuous and powerful by true knowledge
one can really be free, frank and fearless.
So to say, fear and love are the two contradictory forces which rule the
minds of men. We can be a slave of love but not fear. The force of fear
only makes inhuman creatures like animals, etc., antisocial elements and
ruthless, hardcore criminals obey to the laws of nature or man. In fact
fear is the key that brings out the truth direct from the mouth of the
incorrigible criminals. On the other hand, the force of love controls
men of character, innocent people and children to do all works including
sacrifices too i.e. to do anything and everything for nothing but for
love only. Naturally the force of fear is animal in nature, whereas the
force of love is divine in nature. However, of all the powers, love is
the greatest power in the human world.
Acquisition of Knowledge
According to the developments of human knowledge the secrets of life,
Nature, Universe and God are revealed to man. But how is knowledge
gained by man? Through the five senses of man (like seeing, hearing,
smelling, tasting and touching) only besides the capacity of the mind to
think it is possible for man to gain knowledge. Only because of the
unique capacity of human mind to think, remember, imagine and
rationalize in order to understand differences, similarities, qualities,
etc. of everything man is far superior than all the living beings on the
earth. Because of the mind only he got the knowledge that man is higher
than the animals and the Universal Spirit activating everything
everywhere is higher and infinitely superior than man and everything in
the Universe.
Gods
Prior to the development of human knowledge mentally man was in total
darkness and was living under the spell of fear. Fear of darkness,
disease, death, lightning, thunder, storm, volcanic eruption, formidable
animals and so on made him surrender to them and worship them for mercy
and survival. Those objects of fear became Gods. In fact Gods and
Temples are the products of fear only. According to the developments of
knowledge, Gods too were created for worship. To safeguard themselves
from the horrors of the spirits of the dead men and destructions of
Nature, ancestral worship and Nature worship were in vogue. Then animal,
human, natural and supernatural aspects were combined together in the
forms of idols for worship besides personification of Nature for
worship. Likewise Gods such as Sakti, Siva, Indira, Varuna, Mithra,
Surya, Vishnu, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Allah, etc. have come
into the human world and many Religions as a consequence appeared in the
world to rule the minds of men both for good and bad.
Developments by Knowledge and Intelligence
With the help of his knowledge and intelligence the primitive man made
stone weapons to fight against enemies, formidable creatures, etc. Then
he miraculously discovered the way to produce fire and used it for his
protection in the night times and for cooking food. Afterwards he made
wheels to move about using domestic animals and soon invented
agriculture, cattle rearing and farming. His knowledge improved by doing
inventive, creative works and he became a civilized being. However the
limitations of the senses and the incomprehensibility of his mind to
know about the secrets of life, Nature, Universe, God gave him the
knowledge that he is incomplete and imperfect and that a thing called
Spirit higher than the mind is there and by means of which perhaps all
the secrets of the Universe can be known and all his problems can be
solved.
Religion for Total Freedom
Moreover besides his fear of the forces beyond his control or power, he
could not overcome death and achieve immortality. Being a finite being
nothing was eternal and absolute and felt very much dissatisfied over
his helplessness to overcome his limitations, incompleteness and
imperfection. Somehow he wanted to overcome his limitations physically,
mentally and spiritually and save himself from all threats, controls and
dominations. On search he discovered that some force is controlling the
affairs of men, Nature and the Universe. He felt perhaps if he communes
with such a force or power he can solve all problems, save and lead
himself to the state where he can be eternally free and happy. The
result is the birth of his first encyclopaedia of knowledge called
Religion came into existence mainly for the attainment of physical,
mental and spiritual freedom in toto.
Branches of Knowledge
The expression of human knowledge based on experience, thoughts,
feelings, imaginations, etc. appears in the form of paintings, dance,
music, songs, some of the forms of Arts, Religion, Philosophy, Science
and so on. Of the subjects of human knowledge Religion, Philosophy,
Literature and Science are very, very important and vital because based
on which only human life and activities go on since the dawn of
civilization in the world.
Religion, Philosophy, Science, Art and Poetry
Then coming to Religion it can be said that Religion is all about the
creative evolution of man meant for the general guidance of all with
moral code of conduct to be followed for total salvation in life. It is
a system of faith and worship of God. It shows the means to reach from
the manhood to the divine hood and to solve all the problems on the way
thereby. In short the functions of religion are to give peace, education
and knowledge of life and the culture to achieve everything in order to
make human life a complete one. Philosophy is all about the love of
truth and wisdom. It is a no man’s land where synthetic interpretation
is possible when other branches of knowledge have not touched on the
matter or failed to do anything with it. That is why philosophy is
called as weltanschauung as intellectual construction of anything
to a significant conclusion is possible. Science analyses matter by
observation on the basis of experiments to infer or prove the truth
minutely in parts. But the search or the discovery of truth by
scientific analysis is possible only for the physical things and also
experiments cannot be experienced.
In art from the inheritance, Nature it is possible to express, including
metaphysical things by modifying from the known things using one’s
faculties, something lively, forceful and beautiful beyond oneself,
supernatural, etc. thereby effacing one’s personality to escape into the
world of one’s creation in order to transcend one’s limitations to get
satisfaction. In poetic literature religion, philosophy, science, arts
and intellect are combined together in a unique way to express truths
discovered through experience and exploration of the unknown, higher and
supernatural things. That is in poetry only from the known matters it is
possible to express unknown matters by exploring deeply and beyond
intensively and extensively immanent and transcendental things.
Science
Modern world is scientific world. Science is becoming everything.
Non-believers of God, soul, etc. and those interested only in
materialism and the utilities of everything without bothering about
human values and ideals totally rely upon science and scientific truths
only in everything. First man was under the control of Nature. Now he
almost controls Nature with the help of Science. He invented machines to
reduce physical burden, save time, increase comforts in order to use his
leisure for better thoughts and better works giving importance to human
values, making the world a better place to live and exploring the
Universe to enhance his knowledge and satisfying his curiosities. At
first he was just monitoring the machines. But now machines monitor the
affairs of men!
Science – Analysis of Parts, and Philosophy
– Synthesis of Parts to know the Whole Truth
The theory and practice of science to discoveries or inventions or
detections or diagnoses or remedies, etc. follow the method of
experiment, observation and inference though logically the process may
be inductive or deductive and express the results mathematically through
formulae since mathematical truths are self evident absolute truths.
This is possible only if the field of search is clear and well defined.
Otherwise the methods of philosophy only are helpful to solve the
problems. However science starts as philosophy and ends as art i.e. it
begins with hypotheses and completes in achievements.
Therefore in this respect science is very easy, helpful and reliable for
analyzing and solving many crises in the modern world as far as material
or physical things are concerned. But science cannot even touch or solve
the problems of good, evils, life, love, God, Soul, Spirit, etc. which
are of great value, meaning and ideals for man. For science physically
there should be something, then only it can be understood and something
can be created or destroyed. In short as far as science is concerned
microscopically and telescopically parts only can be explored to
understand the whole truth, whereas the case is reverse for philosophy
and arts.
Nature, Universe
– A great wonder to Poets, Philosophers and Scientists
Nature is a great fascination not only for the poets and the
philosophers but also for the scientists and the intellectuals because
of its hidden mystery. The Universe with all its twinkling Stars and
planets is a great wonder and a puzzle that remains yet to be solved.
Though there are natural laws to explain the phenomena of Nature yet
many laws have to be discovered to explain the phenomena like Black
Holes or Magnetic Balls, fast expansion of the Universe, etc. In fact
the door of the Universe was first opened by Copernicus to explore and
discover the secrets of Nature.
Yes, Copernicus first said to the world that the Earth is not the centre
but the Sun is the centre of the Solar System! Then Kepler discovered
that the planets are not revolving round the Sun in circular orbits but
in elliptical orbits. After that Galileo established that Ptolemy’s
Geocentric theory is wrong and Copernicus’s Heliocentric theory is
correct by inventing the telescope to show to the world the position of
planets and Stars of the Milky Way and shattered the old notion that man
with the unmoving fixed Earth is the centre of the Universe. Then it was
discovered that Sun is only the centre of the Solar System in the Milky
Way or the Universe.
Then Industrial Revolution changed the world. Steam engine was invented.
Aero plane was invented. And Rocket was also invented. Movements of the
people increased along with speed. Speed increased on and on, but it was
not enough for man to reach distant Stars and planets! The discovery of
Space goes on and on and yet the curiosity to know the mystery of the
Universe is not still satisfied or finished.
Discoveries and Inventions
After Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo successfully fought for truth and
died as heroes achieving immortality and permanent places in the annals
of science; superstitions and fear began to lose their ground
permanently in the world. Brave new world was born and bold achievements
were made by Newton, Michael Faraday, Max Planck, Heinrich Hertz,
Thomson, Louis Pasteur, Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Einstein, etc. Without
the progressive achievements of Electricity and Electronics perhaps
mankind would have been blind and lame in a primitive world of the past
even today!
Really what a progress the world has made! When we think about
Gravitation we remember Newton, for Electricity Michael Faraday, for
Electromagnetic Waves Heinrich Hertz, for Electron Thomson, for Quantum
Theory or Photoelectric Emission Max Planck, for Theory of Relativity
Einstein, etc. But whatever be our thoughts, words and deeds in the
world, Nature, Universe, etc. everything is enclosed and bounded within
Space and Time, beyond which nothing can escape. That is our position in
this mysterious Universe.
Space, Time and Matter
Next what we have to see is what mystery, power, beauty, wonder behind
this Universe is. What is this Universe? When has this started? How long
has this been going on like this? How long will this go on so further?
By thinking over these questions it is possible to say that the Universe
is after all nothing but Space Time continuum only. The thing is we
don’t feel that a thing called Space with Time was existing in the past,
is existing in the present and will be existing in the future too! This
is because we think Space, Time and all kinds of Matter in it as
separate entities and separately. But in fact Space, Time and Matter are
related things. Even the Laws of Newton’s Mechanical Physics or
Classical Physics are based on the assumption that Space and Time are
dual things in an inertial state. But the reality is otherwise! That is
why Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Modern Theory of Physics has
successfully come into vogue to explain various phenomena in Nature.
Energy = Matter
According to Classical Physics it was felt as said earlier that Matter
and Energy are two distinct forms. While Energy was associated with
Matter its nature was considered as distinctly different from matter.
Albert Einstein found this dualism not only unnecessary but also quite
absurd. He while developing his Theory of Relativity made the startling
suggestion that Matter may be converted into Energy and vice versa and
wrote down the famous Mass Energy equation, E= mc2, which became the
secret formula for the Atomic Bomb! Indeed with the actual explosion of
the Hydrogen bomb this equation was proved experimentally as well as
really to be correct. With that the ideal dualism between Matter and
Energy came to an end, which is a revolutionary development that totally
changed the course of physics in the recent times.
Science for Construction and Destruction
The use of scientific knowledge in the constructive side i.e. in
industries, agriculture, transport, health, etc. has done a lot of good
for the whole of mankind. But in the destructive side scientific
knowledge in the form of Nuclear Weapons, intoxicating drugs, electronic
video tapes, CDs, DVDs and games of immoral nature, etc. has done and is
doing a lot of harm beyond human imagination which has to be curbed at
any cost. There are also works of knowledge having both good and bad
effects which have to be balanced by education or otherwise for the
healthy progress of society and development of the world as a whole.
First, Industrial Revolution changed the world. As a result Agricultural
Activities reduced, mush rooming of harmful labor came up and
environmental pollution appeared and is doing great havoc now. Second,
Technological Developments have modernized the world but have resulted
in cultural decay with change of human culture, in the creation of
pollution in air, land and water, in the deforestation, the building of
congested cities with unhygienic conditions, in the exploration of
natural resources thereby creating long periods of droughts or bringing
in flash floods during the times of cyclonic storms and untold
destructions everywhere, etc. Third, Electronic Developments capturing
all fields of human activities in the form of electronic devices such as
calculators, Televisions, Computers, Robots, musical instruments, etc.
have totally changed the face of the world and as a result, a lot of
time is saved but man is made a slave of machines and if anything fails
in the electronic system, nothing can be done.
Finally more than all these things the production of Atomic energy for
good i.e. for power generation and the nuclear proliferation for bad use
i.e. for the stock piling of Nuclear Weapons have brought the world
either to the creation of One World State for solving all the problems
of mankind by fulfilling the dream of the most welcome or expected
Utopia or the destruction of the world civilization!
Fear
Fear is conquered by Knowledge but its destructive use Jeopardizes the
world. In spite of the progress and the development of man and the
world, the fear of man has not gone away and the threat to world peace
is still in the critical stage and is more than ever before. Previously
man was afraid of the forces of Nature, predators, strong men or brutes
or giants, diseases and death. Then he gained knowledge about self, the
world, Nature, diseases, God, etc. and also learned ways and means to
utilize or harness the forces of Nature for beneficial works, found
medicines to cure diseases and understood that death is a natural
process and the spirit in the body is immortal, etc. Knowledge gave him
confidence, courage, endurance and boldness and as a result he lost
fear.
Afterwards Industrial Revolution came, industries grew everywhere and
people losing interest in Agriculture migrated to towns. Labor Unions
developed, socialism or communism as philosophy of politics gained
popularity and corruption became rampant in communist or socialist
countries ruled by dictators. Then World Wars did untold havoc to many
societies of the world and as a result of which stock piling of Nuclear
Weapons increased in many countries of the world both for defence and
offence. Spy activities of the Super Powers interfered in the affairs of
other smaller countries indirectly and changed the form of governments
there. Increase of Extremism and Terrorism in various countries and
remote control bombs in the hands of the terrorists threaten the very
existence of the world now.
Fear due to Bombs and Terrorism
Therefore the fear of man has not entirely vanished but has shifted from
one thing to another thing. Now the fear of man is on the dictators’ or
Super Powers’ (or some other kind) stock piling of Atomic Bombs, the
terrorists’ threats of annihilation of trains, planes, important cities
and VIPs, etc., rampant corruption everywhere and the money power
dominating and controlling over the affairs of men. Therefore it seems
civilization is giving way to barbarism. This means that history has
started to repeat itself again as man’s nature remains to be the same
even after thousands of years of evolution.
Disintegration of Joint Family and Machine-Beast-Men
Controlled by fear of this kind or that kind man lives not like a human
being but like a machine-beast-man forgetting the rich culture and the
high civilization he has built so long that has enhanced the value of
human life to the divine stature. Previously like the beautiful, gentle
and peace loving elephants live in groups in the forest man was living a
joint family life. Perhaps he might have got the knowledge of joint
family life from the elephants. Then the joint families broke into
nuclear families.
Now after all sorts of technological and electronic developments both
husband and wife work separately to earn money in order to support a
small family of one or two children. The children of such families could
not get the opportunities to know anything about tradition, heritage and
culture from their grand parents. Further they don’t enjoy the care,
love and affection of a joint family system that develops the wisdom
more than the intelligence they get from the modern education which
gives importance to specialization rather than all round development of
the mind, body and spirit.
Due to such discrepancies children grow to be civilized youngsters
rather than cultured or morally well developed citizens. All the members
of the small family spend the time minding their individual works only
without bothering about others’ concerns, cares, problems and worries.
In short they all work as machines and live like animals satisfying
their timely needs by any available means without any rationality. If
life goes on like this how can there be a family relationship or a good
human relationship at all?
Retardation from Divinity to Animalism
This leads to mental sadness or illness which activates the individuals
to indulge in sadistic pleasures that are manifesting in the forms of
inhuman or horrible bomb blasts, rapes and destruction of innocent human
beings here ad there. Not only this but also the working peoples who are
members of these unions or those unions that are connected to various
political parties having rivalries with one another fight for various
causes without rhyme or reason and thereby losing human touch do greater
harm to the nations than things of progress and developments for them.
But the people of conscience though aware of all the bad aspects of
these happenings, could not stop such things for the fear of going
beyond the whip of their group or union or community.
If they come out of the circles and see the reason and kindness, they
know what they have to do. But since they could not come out of the
circles, they are living in fear and darkness in life. That is why
culture and civilization have lost their hold and honor in the present
society. Therefore instead of upgrading himself to be a divine, man
degrades himself to be an animal losing all kinds of value of man or
worse still to be a inhuman or indifferent materialistic machine or
worst still to be a living dead body or matter of no worth or value!
Control of Population needed
Whatever be the progress and developments man has achieved by his
wonderful knowledge the uncontrolled growth of population which has
tilted the balance in its side, makes them inadequate and meaningless.
Therefore by controlling the growth of population, the condition of the
world can be stabilized and any meaningful and reasonable progress of
the world can be made possible. Not only by the introduction of
contraceptive devices, pills, condoms, etc. but also by creating
awareness socially, psychologically, philosophically and religiously
about peace, happiness, good health and better things that can be
achieved by birth control, population growth can be contained
successfully to a great extent.
But without food the survival of the world population is not possible
and so according to the growth of the population, the production of food
products should be increased by finding new scientific methods of
cultivation for rapid growth and harvest of food items that are protein
rich and having high nutrients along with the increased production of
sea-foods, meat, etc. and also the vast area of the barren or waste
lands should be scientifically recycled for agricultural use in order to
produce grains or vegetables suitable for the consumption of the people.
This is how the food resources have to be conserved or maintained for
the survival of the world people in the future with the collective
efforts of all the nations of the world which is easily possible by the
creation of One World Government.
Resource Crunch in the Future
Indeed without the application of human knowledge the world could not
have progressed to the present position. Exploitation of natural
resources for good or bad whatever they are and wherever they are
available is mainly due to the use of human knowledge only.
Wood, coal, oil, uranium, thorium, etc. are got from natural resources
for the production of energy, without which nothing will go on both in
the home and in the industries. Iron, copper, brass, aluminium, carbon,
sulphur, silicon, etc. got from the natural resources are consumed in
the industries in large quantities as raw materials for the manufacture
of materials in the form of appliances, vehicles, equipments necessary
for home, office and hospital for work, entertainment, health and
transport. Then rice, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, fruits, etc.
produced in the agricultural fields, mutton, beef, pork, meat, etc. of
cattle, sheep, pigs, chicken, etc. from the villages and fish, prawns,
crabs, etc. caught from the sea are consumed as food by the people.
Hence it seems energy, raw materials and food available from the natural
resources consumed by the industries and home in the quantities as at
present may last only for a few more hundred years or thousand years.
So, the detailed description of delicious foods in the books cannot
practically serve to satisfy human hunger!
Not Competition but Cooperation needed
With the increase of knowledge intelligence developed and due to
ambition competition in the field of industries increased exploiting
natural resources for energy and raw materials and causing environmental
pollution by the dumping of industrial wastes everywhere and by the
emission of exhaust smokes that has not only polluted the air we breathe
but also are reducing the ozone layer in the atmosphere and creating
holes in it in such a way that the ultraviolet rays come directly from
the Sun to the Earth and affect the eyes and skin of the people with
various kinds of diseases. Further due to the increase of industries,
towns and population the agricultural lands which are producing food
products are getting reduced.
As a result of the enormous growth of industries and world population
energy, raw material and food resources are dwindling everyday to an
alarming proportion which is not good for the world’s future. Analyzing
over these facts we unfortunately come to the conclusion that the causes
for this sorry state of affairs are intelligence and competition. Hence
it is true as wisely said by Einstein that imagination is more important
than intelligence; and now what is needed for peace and unity of the
world as suggested by Russell is that cooperation is more important than
competition. Therefore to overcome the difficulty of resource crunch in
the future imagination of the future is needed; and more than that
cooperation from all sections of the world people is very much needed to
materialize that imagination or dream we all like.
November
19, 2006
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Perspective
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The Week of November 19, 2006
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