ABOUT THE BOOK

The book looks at different perspectives by different disciplines like Biology, Psychology and Philosophy for answers to the questions that have intrigued us: where are we, what are we, why are we here. How is the nature of the human being depicted by different disciplines and different philosophical explorations? Why is it important to know this? It is for a way to live our lives that enhances our own development. Drawing from Buddhist views, it comes to the conclusion that we have to recognise our connections to the rest of the species, our connections to the world and to the cosmos, treat all beings and each other with love and compassion and nurture the earth that sustains us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

She has MA (Economics) from Delhi School of Economics; B.Ed. from Delhi University; MS from State University of New York at New Paltz. Won the Principal's prize and Government of India's prize for standing first in B.Ed. She has Ph.D from the women's University in Mumbai in Sociology with specialisation in women's Studies. She received the certificate of merit as the best women's studies scholar by Cambridge Biographical Centre in 1988 and in 1989 and from TISS in 2010. Has edited and authored many books and articles. To name just a few: Women and Food Security, (Stree, Kolkata) Women Farmers of India (National Book Trust) Ideology of Motherhood ed., (Routledge/Taylor Francis) and Women, Land and Labour co. ed.( Routledge/ Taylor Francis.) She was guest editor for Review of Women's Studies in Economic and Political Weekly from 1982 to 2012. She has been a research consultant to many international agencies. She is now series editor for “Theorising Feminism in India” for Stree Kolkata. She is currently hon. visiting professor at ISEC.

CONTENTS

Human Nature and Human Development: A Philosophical Quest 7
Acknowledgements 9
Objectives of this Work 11
1. Introduction 13
2. We as ‘Humans’ are part of the Biological System 17
3. Evolutionary Psychology 21
4. Mind in Buddhist Psychology 35
5. Contribution of Buddhist thought to the Notion of ‘Human’ 41
6. The Notion of Dependent Origination 47
7. The Essence of Mahayana Buddhism 53
8. Individual and Society Interface 59
9. Eastern and Western View of Ethics 63
10. Deep Ecology 65
11. Scientific View and Spiritual View 69
12. The Role of Philosophy in Development Economics 97
13. Empiricism 101
14. Human Development Paradigm 109
15. Limits to Development as We Know It 119
16. Reflections on a New Agenda 129
17. Social Institutions 135
18. Reality for the Common Man in India 143
19. Gender Issues 151
20. Future Agenda: Developing a Dynamic Perspective 153
21. Conclusion 159
Appendix 163
References 165
Index 171