PUBLIC TALK : The Nature of Human Being – East & West by by Prof. Jaysankar Shah

On behalf of Prof. Jaysankar Shaw, I welcome you to a public talk on Wednesday, 26th July 2023 from 4 PM to 5 PM. More details are below.

Speaker   : Prof. Jaysankar Shaw

Title       : The Nature of Human Being – East & West

Date       : 26th July 2023 (Wednesday)

Time      : 4 PM to 5 PM 

Venue    : High Commission of India Wellington, 72 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington – 6011, P.O. Box 12211

Abstract:
The aim of this talk is to discuss the nature of human beings, both from Western and Eastern perspectives. The first part will deal with Western concepts of human being, beginning with Plato. Since we come across four views in Western philosophy, this part will be divided into four sections, dealing with the following views: a) rationality as the defining property of human beings; b) certain attitudes or experiences, such as caring, loving, etc., as the defining properties of human beings; c) theological concepts of human beings, and d) the existentialist concepts of human beings.
The second part will deal with Indian concepts of human beings. Since the form of life of human beings cannot be described in terms of a particular character or property, I shall focus on the following six features, or dimensions, of human beings: a) the concept of ought and ought not; b) free will, presupposed by the concept of ought; c) the concept of infinity, or participation in both finite and infinite concepts; d) creativity, as well as suggestive meaning; e) the realization of rasas, and f) liberation (mokṣa, nirvāṇa) or freedom from bondage.