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The need of global thinking and global acting has become lately a central topic of society. Following the concepts of policy, economy
and science, it seems, that they all tend towards a reduction of political frontiers and cultural distinctions. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the recent political development in Russia, the establishment of the Euro
as a common European currency, the reduction of European frontier control are examples for this tendency. Considering this, one central question arises: Is mankind mentally prepared for this process? Will people
really be able to handle it? Hostility to foreigners and the struggle for political and economical dominance tell another story.
K. Srinivas, the author of this article, makes this problem the focus of his study, his central question being: Is there a way to reduce mental and
cultural barriers? Considering the recent social development, this question highlights one of the most urgent problems of society of today. Presenting his arguments, the author is firmly rooted in his philosophical
background. Differentiated and logically he reveals to us, how important the development of a proper comparative philosophy is for mankind. His arguments as well as the presentation of the different perspectives of
comparative philosophy are remarkable. Very clearly he reveals the essential human problem, hindering the realization of a global consciousness - the tendency of man to think in categories, to dissociate himself
from the unknown and to stay rather within the established, personal, mental limits. Man usually does not like to leave his save mental space, when the unknown might be of some danger for him.
This is exactly the point, Srinivas considers as the big chance for comparative philosophy. Its central task, the rational exploration of the nature of
human beings, being essentially the same all over this planet, might contribute to an effective reduction of mental barriers. Comparative Philosophy does not consider, as many other sciences, cultural distinctions.
Much more it considers the global human being as central object of its research and study. It aims at the development of a metaphysical humanism and at a world-view of human life and for human life. Srinivas is
definitely a progressive and courageous thinker, presenting innovative methods of comparative philosophy and revealing this way world-perspectives, that will be most important for the further development of mankind.
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back to Srinivas' "The Need for Comparative Philosophy"
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