On Art, aesthetics and philosophy..

Since time immemorial philosophy has tried to bring art into the realms of rationality and the assign the role of cognition to it. Art always claims that its content is inaccessible to philosophy and serves a much higher purpose and value.
Philosophers then coined aesthetics to discuss art and to make it more precise and give it a philosophical form.
Earlier philosophical movements attributed the role of romanticism in art. These movements assigned the role of our feelings, emotions and affects in the works of art. According to romanticism, our psychological states had a role in development of art. Beauty was considered as an apprehension of the moral rational order of things. Beauty in art and art is beauty was the dictum of the romantic movement.
There was then an anti-romantic art movement which assigned a higher purpose to art. Art should be for art’s sake was the inspiration. Teleology was assigned more important role than cause of it.
Transcendental theory of art says we all have a geist (the inner spiritual being) which inspires all art forms. The inner apriori inspirations guide us and help us express our emotions and feelings in different forms.
The naturalistic theory on the other hand says that nature and the external world is the inspiration behind all art. There is definitive role of empericism in art and we can explain our artistic growth in terms of natural evolution of mind and humans.
I agree with all the theories but assign different roles to them at different stages.
I do agree that art comes from within for which we should allow ourselves to be calm. Once we are tranquil creativity begins to flow on her own. It is like being a child; a child busy his play.
However art also needs a language to express itself. An author can write only in language he learns. A painter needs assess to colours in order to paint. Music will need instruments. These instruments and musical forms undergo natural changes over time. We inherit art from our surroundings and our experiences also and how we are effected by them. So, our art grows only when we are provided with basic ingredients for its development from nature.
At the same time, we always need to have the right feelings, emotions and inspirations to produce work of art. We need a sensitive persona to become an artist.
To summarise, all elements including our heart, brain, mind and soul need to come together to produce work of art.

The importance of science is not in its infallibility but in its corrigibility.

Science and scientific thinking has revolutionised the way we live our life in this century and it will continue to shape the course of human civilization in the times to come.
The present corona virus pandemic and the manner in which vaccines and medicines are saving human lives will give more credence to it.
Every human strives to have more control over his own life and also has a deep desire to know the truth. Science helps us in both.
Science is based on a rigorous method and strives to be exact. It tries to find exact relationship between constituents and causes of events. Everyone will agree that when faced with new challenges, we all have to proceed with scientific methodology and advancements of the time.
It does not mean that science is infallible. It still has many more questions to answer and it has been proved wrong many a times.
But science has the ability and true scientists have humility to accept the wrong. Their beliefs are not blind and are based on a rationale. Once presented with evidence against their own long lasting viewpoint, a scientist will always agree to look into it and make the correction.
Take the example of present pandemic.
The virus causing covid was detected when doctors noted a different type of pneumonia in the X-rays and CT scans. The disease involved peripheral lungs initially with ground glass opacities unlike hitherto known types of pneumonia. The cause was soon found to be novel corona virus. New and easier tests were made to detect the virus and disease from already known techniques. Experimental treatments were explored. These experimental drugs had known antiviral properties and were safe to use. Steroids were found to be most effective after many randomised and meta analytical trials. Many drugs like Hydroxychoroquine were later discarded when trial showed they had very little impact. Plasma therapy has also been discarded recently due to lack of treatment benefit.
Science is evidence based and if given evidence against a known theory, it will be ready to discard it. If tommorrow we come to know that a particular treatment is not effective or having side effects, it will be immediately discarded and course corrections will be made. For example, even steroid therapy need to be rationalised in covid to prevent mucormycosis.
Newer drugs have also been tried but most importantly effective vaccines were made available within a span of one year.
Research into more effective drugs and vaccines will continue to go on and many course corrections will be made.

Science believes that nature is not capacious but systematic and logical. Science is methodical and hence more likely to find a solution to the mysteries of nature. A sincere and determined effort to discover its principles will always bear fruits. Scientific method will therefore remain valid for many more future challenges to come.
No doubt, serendipity is possible and God may be helping us at critical junctures, but a discovery after sustained effort always gives better results because it is based on a definitive understanding of the principles involved. Even God would like us to become more self sufficient and knowledgeable. “Remember self help is the best help,” God would teach us from within.
We as humans are free to believe in an infallible God but we will have to depend and accept science because of its humility to accept failures and for its powers of corrigibility.

BLACK FUNGUS AND STEROIDS

Steroids as a class of drug has been indicted in the causation of mucormycosis in patients of COVID.
I would like to clarify and stress the fact that steroids have a proven role in covid and have played a vital role in saving millions of lives in this pandemic.
I agree the incidence of mucormycosis in covid patients have baffled a lot of doctors too.
We do know that lot of diabetic patients when given steroids in high doses, are prone to develop fungal infections. However, we have used steroids in many different conditions and in much higher doses in many patients before and have never seen such high incidence of mucormycosis.
I have personally used steroids in very high doses(in fact five to ten times more dose) in patients with optic nerve injury, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis or in patients with CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy).
It is likely that there are contributing factors which has led to high incidence of mucormycosis in covid patients. These factors could be-

1. The first factor could be the virus itself. The virus is inhabiting nasal mucosa and pharynx to begin with. During disease patients complain of dry nasal mucosa. The virus may be predisposing sinuses and mucosa to further fungal infection.
2. Poor hygiene which is responsible for increased incidence of mucor. The equipments like oxygen concentrators, BiPAPs if not properly sanitised, unclean oxygen moisturing water, masks used for long periods without cleaning may be contributing in developing fungal infection.
3. Healthcare workers are overstretched which has led to lesser focus on sugar control, infection control measures and patient hygiene.
4. Overuse of antibiotics by the patient himself and doctors which predisposes to fungal infection.

I would insist that steroids definitely has a contributing role in mucormycosis but are not the only factor. We should continue to use them judiciously in covid infection.
I think good hygiene, optimal care and cleanliness of masks and disposables, rational use of antibiotics, optimal control of blood sugar and early diagnosis of infection should reduce incidence of mucormycosis.

Philosophy quote

The sense of oneness and togetherness

We all are here to learn. We might stumble and make mistakes but that doesn’t mean we cannot correct ourselves. Yes, we can resurrect and find a new path. Sometimes we may require help but ultimately we become the change. Most importantly, despite all the differences, we are one in our spirits.

Epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and inquisitiveness

Plato’s cave allegory and learning

Plato proposed an allegory of cave to differentiate between the effect of education and lack of it in nature.
He imagined people without knowledge as prisoners inside a dark cave and a blank wall in front of them. There was a fire outside the cave and the reflection of whosoever passed in front of the fire was projected on the blank wall. Plato said the education was like a freed prisoner who saw the fire and realised that the prisoners were just watching the shadow’s and thinking them as reality.
He then says that even if the freed prisoner goes back into the cave and wants to bring other prisoner outside, nobody would believe him and remain ignorant unless they want to free themselves.

Epistemology – On inquisitiveness

I differ with Plato here. I believe that we have certain innate ideas which define our individual nature. One of the most important of the those innate ideas is inquisitiveness. Inquisitiveness to know about the world and the truth. It is this Inquisitiveness which is the beginning of our knowledge. We don’t just see the light behind us projecting on walls. We are blessed with this Inquisitiveness from the very birth as a part of our evolution and a field of knowledge called nature in front of us to gain knowledge.
We might be intrigued by the world outside and may feel that we are in bondage. But as we emerge out of all this through knowledge and wisdom, we also realise that our initial individual nature and each event which we passed through, was essential for our growth and understanding.
I do agree that education, does stimulate this growth multifold but I also believe that, just because we see a shadow of ourselves and of others in presence of light, we do not presume the entire world to be an illusion like the shadow. It’s more important to focus on the real being, it’s growth and the light which allows reality to exist and allows us to learn and acquire knowledge.

Change is the only inevitable law of Nature

The coming years of this century will be defined by the paradigm shift in the way we think and will lead to significant changes in our life because of the progress we make in the field of science, medicine, philosophy, art and all other fields of knowledge.

It is natural that the present pandemic has given us new lessons and the vaccines we made to fight the corona virus, in such a short duration, gives a lot of hope for the future. Corona will continue to pose problem but as collective humanity, we will emerge more stronger out of it once we develop herd immunity.There will be more innovations in the field of medicine. After finding vaccines for Corona, we will endeavour to find vaccines for many more viruses and learn more about pandemic cycles and their prior cure. We will make rapid progress in gene therapy, treatment of chronic and acute disorders and innovate newer medical technology.We will make major changes in providing wholesome and healthy life to all citizens of the world.

Coming to changes in other fields and what to expect, when this pandemic abates and we move further into 21st century.Scientifically we are likely to make more discoveries and inventions. Once the particle accelerator at Geneva become re-operational with new and more modern additions, we might find more subatomic particles like Higgs boson and know more about their properties. Once we know about properties of more subatomic particles we might make fascinating discoveries about our universe and make new innovations which may far exceed our own expectations.Space technology will grow and we might conquer new frontiers in space.We must expect more innovations in the field of communications and much better technology in our hands.

Philosophically, we might see an evolution of a value based philosophy which gives more control over our own life. It is important that humans realise their full potential. Only after this, we can know our limitations if any, and only then we will realise true importance of God (or first cause for scientific minded people). I always remind myself that the solutions to all problems of life will be found on unification of science, logic, art, philosophy and all fields of knowledge. We will take initial steps in this direction of unifying all fields of knowledge.

There shall be more evolution in the field of art because every common man will have better means of communication at their disposal to present their potential. We will realise why art is more closer to our emotions and feelings and best tool of maintaining good psychological health.

Politically, there will be dissolution of nationalistic tendencies due to wider awareness about a global world. This will be facilitated by intermingling of people and also due to emergence of new global challenges.

More mysteries of Nature will be revealed but remember; every mystery solved, will bring in new challenges.

From Ideology to idea

कोई भी संकुचित विचारधारा, मानव की सोच के फैलाव को नहीं रोक सकती। मानव स्वयं अपने वैचारिक फैलाव को नहीं रोक सकता। मानव प्रकृति में निहित है कि वह अपने लिए अच्छे से अच्छा करना चाहता है और हमेशा आगे बढ़ते रहना चाहता है। क्या सही है इस पर हम सबकी राय अलग हो सकती है पर हमारा मन और चेतना तब तक शांत नहीं होते जब तक दोनों सही विचार और रास्ता ना पा ले। यही प्रवृत्ति निश्चित करती है कि व्यक्ति के साथ साथ समाज भी आगे बढ़ता रहे।

No narrow minded ideology can restrict the growth of human intellect. Humans cannot stop their own intellectual growth. Every human wants best for himself. We might defer in our opinions as to what is right but our mind and consciousness never attain peace till they both find the correct idea and path. This tendency is responsible for the growth of our society along with the individual growth.

Philosophy quote
On politics and political philosophy
(Extracts from my Hindi novel ‘sangharsh se udaan tak’)

जीव प्रकृति में यह निहित है कि वह राजा/रानी तो बनने की सोच सकता है परन्तु अपने ऊपर किसी दूसरे का शासन या अपने जीवन में दूसरे का दखल सहन नहीं कर सकता।
इसी स्वतंत्रता की इच्छा ने राजनीति को बदला है और लोकतंत्र को जन्म दिया है । यही इच्छा शक्ति एक दिन समस्त राजनीति को समाप्त कर देगी।
राजनीति करनी नहीं होती, खत्म करनी होती है।

Every man or woman may want to become a king or a queen respectively but no one ever wants to be ruled by anyone or want interference by someone in one’s own life.
This tendency to remain free and seek freedom has been responsible for evolution of political systems and emergence of democracy. This same tendency will one day end all politics from society.
Politics is not supposed to be done. It is supposed to be brought an end to.

(We may require governance for common needs, relations for sharing our emotional needs but none of us want to be ruled.)

I think, therefore I am…….

Agreed, it gives me an identity when I begin thinking and it is sufficient proof of my existence. Now, let us proceed to more logical aspects like what I think, in which language and how I understand my thoughts.

The logical aspects of thought mentioned above bring into focus the importance of the nature because I can neither think of anything without an individual nature for it nor understand those thoughts without experiencing it in the nature around.

I think therefore I am….and Nature exists that’s why I understand……