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Cogito ergo sum - I Think, therefore I Exist, this message, given by René Descartes, the famous 17th century mathematician and philosopher, can be
looked upon as a predominant influence for the development of science. The explanation of natural phenomena and the understanding of the universe should become the urgent task of philosophy, mathematics, biology,
physics, medicine and adjoining science, a process, being even more influenced by the cognition of Newton. One essential feature of this mental attitude was the distinction between mind (res cogitans) and matter
(res extensa).
Time has gone by, and science has achieved incredible progress since then, especially in the realm of physics and medicine. The cognition of modern
particle physics, exploring the universe and of medicine, developing new treatment, revealed possibilities and perspectives for mankind, we hardly can imagine. Today we are standing on the threshold of a new era -
the 21st century, and we have to decide, in what direction science shall develop. The temptations as well as the responsibility is big enough.
Exactly at that point Asrani starts his argumentation. First of all, he demonstrates us the conflict, arising out of this development. Progress has
lead us, due to its positive effects, to a mental attitude, that makes us feel superior to nature. Man considers himself, due to the capacity of his brain, as master of the universe. We know very well, that now we
have to face the consequences of this attitude - depletion of land fertility, killing of the earth by chemical fertilizers, large scale destruction of the Environment, Ozone depletion of a protective atmosphere
generation of Hazardous Toxic Chemicals, and the like.
To Asrani the separation between human mind and matter and the resulting unrelatedness can be looked upon as the main causes for these conflicts. The
lack of any inner relationship between man and nature leads to the attitude, that man forgets about his dependence on natural resources. Nature can very well exist without man, but man cannot survive without nature.
To Asrani the main point is the search for a suitable scientific method. In India there are methods, which facilitate the experience of union between
human mind and cosmos, as for example Yoga. The exploration of the Physio-Psycho-Chemical states at the cellular and micro level by which the consciousness pervading it is aligned into a state of receptivity
with the Supreme Consciousness should become the predominant task of the 21st century physics. This way new dimensions, concerning the solution of global conflicts, could be revealed by science.
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back to Asrani's "The Study Of The Human Mind"
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