Mukul Kesavan had done a series of articles on majoritarianism, the latest of which is “Noble Experiment” and can be read here https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/the-importance-of-having-been-pluralist/cid/1830296
When you talk about individuals and their relationship with God, you are leaving out the fact that a large majority in France and western Europe have long become athiests. Hence, God centered arguments for freedom of choice is a non-starter for these states. Since people have to live together sharing the same space, water and air, Individual choice is honored only as much as public health, social cohesion and harmony affords. You are dangerously veering towards arguments of Covid deniers and anti-vaxxers who insist on their "right" not to mask and vaccinate completely ignoring the fact that their "choice" injures themselves and fellow citizens. The only valid argument against burqa bans should be to ask the ban proponents to prove injury to the general public. Either this is won at court or in the forum of public opinion reflected in the elected body. The french govt or any corporation can certainly decree a dress code for students and employees. Also "free choice" - a fine concept but your choices are not free. They are always influenced by social conditioning, unwritten laws and customs instilled in you from childhood.
Economic progress of nations in modern times is based on science and knowledge, the more people practice blind faith/religion, the less they practice science and knowledge. Europe, Japan, USA, China, Vietnam are moving ahead as more and more people stop practicing religion and free themselves of dogmatic practices.
Many Indian middle class get fooled by politicians or godman on history, geography and economics, because their education has been only for purpose of marriage or jobs and in seeking new knowledge they turn to godman /politcians. While in educated society, people turn towards libraries, good journals, professors for further knowledge.
India needs leaders who can openly ask people to stop practicing religion and focus on growing their knowledge of work and world.
Lately been reading some articles by Sonali. What I like about her is that she’s not limited herself to her primary domain of finance but goes deep into multiple domains. This is not only good but more realistic & wholesome. Where people make mistake in their world view is when they begin to see everything from the narrow prism of their profession & experiences, without going into multiple domains. World is made up of multiple entities which interact with each other and this causes friction & at times they find a common ground too & move forward.
This multidisciplinary study of history, economy, geopolitics, geography, cultures, technology, the agriculture to different phases of industrial revolution, warfare etc as also the ramifications of different political/economic decisions taken on the society & the world at large, need to be done especially by leaders including political & thought leaders of other domains. That’s how one can come to a wholesome solution.
An erudite essay couldn't be more relevant or important. Majoritarianism which attempts for transforming a cultural majority into a permanent, political majority with distorted philosophy and venal hermeneutics is brilliantly elucidated. It is a magisterial restatement of principles that is succinct...and yet comprehensive. It is thoughtful and deep but highly readable. It is timely yet timeless.
However, the analysis of religion as done by the author is lacking one aspect. As is written by you :
“That is what every religion teaches us. Then by what right can anybody demand the site at which we maximize the freedom of choice in this world be anything but the individual?”
The question raised is infinitely potent. We need to understand the importance of “individual choice. What is this choice?
Is it the ‘purushkar’ the work done by an individual or is it the choices we make?
Agreed that this question is metaphysical in nature, but a definition of that would have taken the writing to the level next to next.
I can be called an ideal theorist.
Seriously this definition is something that I am seeking for a long time. None has a clear answer. You have the gift of the gab and have explained a lot of things in the past. So……
God concept was supposed to recede that is why laicite is blind to religion denominations.
When you talk about individuals and their relationship with God, you are leaving out the fact that a large majority in France and western Europe have long become athiests. Hence, God centered arguments for freedom of choice is a non-starter for these states. Since people have to live together sharing the same space, water and air, Individual choice is honored only as much as public health, social cohesion and harmony affords. You are dangerously veering towards arguments of Covid deniers and anti-vaxxers who insist on their "right" not to mask and vaccinate completely ignoring the fact that their "choice" injures themselves and fellow citizens. The only valid argument against burqa bans should be to ask the ban proponents to prove injury to the general public. Either this is won at court or in the forum of public opinion reflected in the elected body. The french govt or any corporation can certainly decree a dress code for students and employees. Also "free choice" - a fine concept but your choices are not free. They are always influenced by social conditioning, unwritten laws and customs instilled in you from childhood.
Well reasoned!
Excellent point of view.
https://link.medium.com/u9isuK06vjb
Economic progress of nations in modern times is based on science and knowledge, the more people practice blind faith/religion, the less they practice science and knowledge. Europe, Japan, USA, China, Vietnam are moving ahead as more and more people stop practicing religion and free themselves of dogmatic practices.
Many Indian middle class get fooled by politicians or godman on history, geography and economics, because their education has been only for purpose of marriage or jobs and in seeking new knowledge they turn to godman /politcians. While in educated society, people turn towards libraries, good journals, professors for further knowledge.
India needs leaders who can openly ask people to stop practicing religion and focus on growing their knowledge of work and world.
Don't be an atheist, but don't practice religion.
I like the way Sonali refers to the third person as feminist gender. Very refreshing
Lately been reading some articles by Sonali. What I like about her is that she’s not limited herself to her primary domain of finance but goes deep into multiple domains. This is not only good but more realistic & wholesome. Where people make mistake in their world view is when they begin to see everything from the narrow prism of their profession & experiences, without going into multiple domains. World is made up of multiple entities which interact with each other and this causes friction & at times they find a common ground too & move forward.
This multidisciplinary study of history, economy, geopolitics, geography, cultures, technology, the agriculture to different phases of industrial revolution, warfare etc as also the ramifications of different political/economic decisions taken on the society & the world at large, need to be done especially by leaders including political & thought leaders of other domains. That’s how one can come to a wholesome solution.
Kudos to Sonali!
An erudite essay couldn't be more relevant or important. Majoritarianism which attempts for transforming a cultural majority into a permanent, political majority with distorted philosophy and venal hermeneutics is brilliantly elucidated. It is a magisterial restatement of principles that is succinct...and yet comprehensive. It is thoughtful and deep but highly readable. It is timely yet timeless.
The writing is undoubtedly powerful.
However, the analysis of religion as done by the author is lacking one aspect. As is written by you :
“That is what every religion teaches us. Then by what right can anybody demand the site at which we maximize the freedom of choice in this world be anything but the individual?”
The question raised is infinitely potent. We need to understand the importance of “individual choice. What is this choice?
Is it the ‘purushkar’ the work done by an individual or is it the choices we make?
Agreed that this question is metaphysical in nature, but a definition of that would have taken the writing to the level next to next.
I can be called an ideal theorist.
Seriously this definition is something that I am seeking for a long time. None has a clear answer. You have the gift of the gab and have explained a lot of things in the past. So……