Sociology, Ideology and Utopia: Socio-Political Philosophy of East and WestThis engaging, wide-ranging study in comparative social and political philosophy gives a well-argued account of how ideological and even utopian views, such as normative communication, development and justice, are sociologically rooted. It also shows how this fact has been reflected in the social history of Asian countries like India and China, as well as some Western countries during the last two centuries. To illustrate the underlying concepts, reference is made to influential thinkers, both from the East and West, from Hegel and James Mill to Marx and Maozedong, and from Gandhi to Rawls. The author, himself one of the major contemporary Indian philosophers, offers arguments to show that the right version of cultural relativism is objective and judgeable. Concrete case studies are cited indicating why even fundamental values like indivisible peace and "our own green planet" cannot be practically universalized. Yet this work is a sustained plea for improvable understanding between the East and the West and the transcultural value orientation of different cultures. |
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Sociology, Ideology, and Utopia: Socio-political Philosophy of East and West Debi Prasad Chattopadhyaya No preview available - 1997 |
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abstract accepted action ahimsā basic Bernstein Blanquism capitalism character China civil disobedience claim Communist concept conflict Congress consciousness context countries CPI(M criticism Cultural Revolution culture D.P. Chattopadhyaya defended dialectic economic Engels ethic Europe example existence exploited favour forces formulation freedom Gandhi German global Hegel Hegelian Hindu human nature Hume ideal ideas ideology and utopia India individual influence interest ISBN 90 James Mill Kant Kant's Kautsky knowledge laws Lenin liberty M.N. Roy Mao's Marx Marx's Marxist Mill Mill's mind moral movement non-violent objective party peasants philosophy political Popper position practical principle problems proletariat proved question Rawls realized reason relation relativism revolution revolutionary role Rosa Luxemburg rules satyagraha sector sense social determinants socialist society sociology sociology of knowledge sort Soviet spirit Sri Aurobindo Stalin Teng theory thinkers thought tion Trotsky truth understanding unity violence world3