Gandhi's Philosophy and the Quest for Harmony

This book presents an interpretation of Gandhi's political philosophy, and how he strove to connect it with the four goals of life.

Anthony J. Parel (Author)

9780521867153, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 August 2006

244 pages, 1 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.53 kg

'Rare in Gandhi interpretation is so original a study. Anthony Parel persuasively argues that Gandhi, in a quest to harmonize Indian values, privileged politics or artha as the means to attain moksha. Rather surprisingly Gandhi emerges the more a modern and pragmatic politician.' Antony Copley, University of Kent

Anthony Parel affords a novel perspective on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. He explores how Gandhi connected the spiritual with the temporal. As Parel points out 'being more things than one' is a good description of Gandhi and, with these words in mind, he shows how Gandhi, drawing on the Indian time-honoured theory of the purusharthas or 'the aims of life', fitted his ethical, political, aesthetic and religious ideas together. In this way Gandhi challenged the notion which prevailed in Indian society that a rift existed between the secular and the spiritual, the political and the contemplative life. Parel's revealing and insightful book shows how far-reaching were the effects of Gandhi's practical philosophy on Indian thought generally and how these have survived into the present.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. The Four Aims of Life: Introduction
1. Gandhi's reconstitution of the four aims
Part II. Politics and Economics: 2. Civic nationalism
3. The state
4. The economy
Part III. Dharma: 5. Dharma as duty
6. Dharma as religion
7. Dharma as ethics
Part IV. Pleasure: 8. Celibacy and sexuality
9. Art and society
Part V. Spiritual Liberation: 10. The Gita and moksha
11. Conclusion: the political and the spiritual
Bibliography
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], History of ideas [JFCX], Philosophy of religion [HRAB], Religion: general [HRA], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Oriental & Indian philosophy [HPDF], Non-Western philosophy [HPD], Philosophy [HP], General & world history [HBG]