#Thread #IndicPhilosophy
A key difference between India and the West.
Philosophically, the West is Noun-Heavy. This means
=> It seeks represent a State in Time
=> This has crept into every discipline - whether it is Psychology or Medicine or Physics - (Eg., Particle Physics)
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A key difference between India and the West.
Philosophically, the West is Noun-Heavy. This means
=> It seeks represent a State in Time
=> This has crept into every discipline - whether it is Psychology or Medicine or Physics - (Eg., Particle Physics)
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This has implications for the daily life.
=> It seeks to concretise every Fascination of the Mind. Artha and Kama gain significant over emphasis.
=> This results in Diversity of Material in Life. Hence, the Product Mindset of the West.
Modern Industry has imbibed this.
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=> It seeks to concretise every Fascination of the Mind. Artha and Kama gain significant over emphasis.
=> This results in Diversity of Material in Life. Hence, the Product Mindset of the West.
Modern Industry has imbibed this.
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There are other serious implications. What does this Noun-Heaviness or Noun-Fascination do to the language?
- It tends to convert the Verb/Adjectives too into Noun, in excess.
- As a result, it has a fascination for the Abstract Noun.
Eg., Liberty, Confession, Development
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- It tends to convert the Verb/Adjectives too into Noun, in excess.
- As a result, it has a fascination for the Abstract Noun.
Eg., Liberty, Confession, Development
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What does this to do the daily life?
- It tends to give greater focus to the transient states of the present
- The moment we give a noun to our transient state, we are likely to be caught in it.
- Give something a shape, it will trap you within.
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- It tends to give greater focus to the transient states of the present
- The moment we give a noun to our transient state, we are likely to be caught in it.
- Give something a shape, it will trap you within.
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Lets see some examples.
1. I am disturbed
is a frequently used sentence in today’s India. Our elders would not use this sentence. They would say “I felt disturbed”.
In Hindi, a more frequently used sentence is - “Mujhe Dukh hua”.
Transience vs Permanance.
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1. I am disturbed
is a frequently used sentence in today’s India. Our elders would not use this sentence. They would say “I felt disturbed”.
In Hindi, a more frequently used sentence is - “Mujhe Dukh hua”.
Transience vs Permanance.
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One more example
2. Failure
In Indian languages, its pucca equivalent is almost not used at all. In Hindi, common man will say “Woh Haar Gayaa”. “Haar” as a state is more an intellectual indulgence. “sOlu” is less used in spoken Kannada.
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2. Failure
In Indian languages, its pucca equivalent is almost not used at all. In Hindi, common man will say “Woh Haar Gayaa”. “Haar” as a state is more an intellectual indulgence. “sOlu” is less used in spoken Kannada.
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That does not mean that we are not changing. With exposure to English, there is an excess of abstract nouning Verbs constantly happening and as a result our lexicon is changing. As a result our thought as well.
We will come back to that.
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We will come back to that.
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Not excessively converting Adjectives/Verbs into Abstract Nouns comes from
-Bharateeya mindset to not give credence to impermanent transient states.
-Seeing life as a journey from state to state. Emphasis is on journey.
Gaze at the State, you will get stuck at the State.
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-Bharateeya mindset to not give credence to impermanent transient states.
-Seeing life as a journey from state to state. Emphasis is on journey.
Gaze at the State, you will get stuck at the State.
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We are a Journey Culture and Action Culture. Moving from One State to another State requires Action. Hence, we are a Verb Culture.
State Cultures want to understand the State (the Maya) in excess than required. They are fascinated with the State.
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State Cultures want to understand the State (the Maya) in excess than required. They are fascinated with the State.
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More the States the Merrier. State has strong relationship with the Material . Hence, the fascination with the Material. Hence, a fancy for creation of more Products. Srishti gets emphasis.
Journey Culture aims for Sthiti. Be Stable, Be Dynamic but be in Equilibrium.
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Journey Culture aims for Sthiti. Be Stable, Be Dynamic but be in Equilibrium.
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Journey Culture controls the need for Material and hence the need for Products. It focuses on the Journey being beautiful with everything being balanced including the Material.
In Summary, Philosophy shapes Language. In turn, Language shapes Philosophy.
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In Summary, Philosophy shapes Language. In turn, Language shapes Philosophy.
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Now, for a more serious concern.
This is changing in India rapidly.
1. Gradually, Indian languages are acquiring ‘Noun-Heaviness’. English influence.
2. Social Science is heavily pushing ‘Nouns’ into our Lexicon.
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This is changing in India rapidly.
1. Gradually, Indian languages are acquiring ‘Noun-Heaviness’. English influence.
2. Social Science is heavily pushing ‘Nouns’ into our Lexicon.
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What are we to do
1. Proper Decolonization requires that we continue to be Verb-Languages and minimally indulge in Verb-Nouning/Adjective-Nouning.
2. Build a Security Net around Western Ideas while translating them or engaging with them.
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1. Proper Decolonization requires that we continue to be Verb-Languages and minimally indulge in Verb-Nouning/Adjective-Nouning.
2. Build a Security Net around Western Ideas while translating them or engaging with them.
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3. Take is Head-On.
- Begin Verbing excessive English Abstract Nouns (especially Academics)
Perspective of Life comes from the language. Language does not mean merely grammatical structure but the
- process of creating words.
- nature of words as well.
Language is Serious 🙏🏼
- Begin Verbing excessive English Abstract Nouns (especially Academics)
Perspective of Life comes from the language. Language does not mean merely grammatical structure but the
- process of creating words.
- nature of words as well.
Language is Serious 🙏🏼
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