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R.R. Gaur, Rajeev Sangal and G.P. Bagaria, A Foundation Course in Human
Values and Professional Ethics, 2010, New Delhi: Excel Books, pp. 118, Rs175,
ISBN: 978-81-7446-781-2

Article  in  Journal of Human Values · August 2011

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A Foundation Course in Human Values and Professional Ethics

In today’s competitive environment where society and its individuals give more credence to

materialistic success than human values and professional ethics, here comes a well-timed

book from three professors of technology who have spent their entire careers teaching

technology, as well as value-based education. With global financial crises flagging the

sustainability issues again, the book provides a comprehensive, clear, and comprehendible

analysis of how foundations of values can be laid at an early stage that would make

individuals more professionally ethical, and value-driven. Although the book is primarily

targeted towards undergraduate and graduate students in any stream of specialization, but it

would also be a good read for anyone unfamiliar to the Indian philosophical underpinnings

that lays a foundation stone for ethical and professional behaviour in individuals, and

societies.

The book has 16 chapters. The first chapter titled “Understanding value education” deals with

certain fundamental issues which directly relate to happiness, welfare, aspirations, goals and

success in life. The chapter discusses how value education enables us to be in harmony within

ourselves, other human beings and rest of nature. It states need for value education as, for a)

correctly identifying our aspirations b) understanding universal human values to fulfil our

aspirations in continuity c) complementarity of values and skills d) evaluation of our beliefs,

and, e) to know importance of technology in human values. The chapter also provides few

basic guidelines for value education that are universal, rational, natural and verifiable, all

encompassing, leading to harmony.

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Chapter 2, titled, “Self-exploration as the process for value education” discusses the process

of finding about what is valuable to oneself by investigating within oneself. To understand all

this, we should start observing inside. Self exploration and its purpose are defined as – a)

what you are and what you want b) it’s a process of self-evolution through self-investigation

c) knowing oneself and through that knowing entire existence d) recognizing one’s

relationship and fulfilling it e) it’s about knowing human conduct and character and living

accordingly f) it’s about being in harmony with oneself and entire existence, and, g)

identifying innateness and moving towards self-organization and self-expression.

Chapter 3 (The basic human aspirations – continuous happiness and prosperity) discusses

finding the basic aspirations through making down a list about what you want in life and

reasons for wanting them. It states that there are two basic aspirations of human beings i.e.

continuous happiness and prosperity. It talks about exploring happiness and prosperity in

these ways; happiness- a state of harmony is happiness, and a state of contradiction and

disliking is unhappiness. Prosperity – it is the feeling of having more than required physical

facilities. There is also a discussion about not being able to differentiate between “wanting”

and “being”. Finally, the chapter talks about evaluating various questions and confusions that

we have on the issue of happiness.

Chapter 4- The program to fulfil basic human aspirations, discusses how happiness and

prosperity can be ensured. The desires and wants which are to do with physical things are

called “physical facilities” and the other category of wants is “relationships”. The authors

also suggest a neat equation as follows:

Right understanding+ relationship = mutual fulfilment

Right understanding + physical facilities = mutual prosperity

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The chapter explores about what the ‘right understanding’ is and it is tied to the need for

happiness. The state of our happiness or unhappiness depends on three aspects like right

understanding, relationship and physical facilities.

Chapter 5 – Understanding the human being as co-existence of self (‘I’) and body, discusses a

human being as the co-existence of ‘I’ and the body, and the exchange of information

between the two. The author talks about “alive-ness” or “Jivana” which is demonstrated by

the functioning of the senses, and “Sukha” which refers to happiness. The author believes that

the distinct characteristics of self can be identified through distinct needs. The needs are the

“Suvidha” which the body requires for its care and nourishment. The book then helps in

differentiating the needs of the ‘self’ and the needs of the ‘I’ with the former being more of

temporary in nature, while the later is continuous. While the needs of the self are fulfilled by

right understanding and right feeling, the needs of the body are met by physical facilities. The

authors feel that both the needs are essential and people have a false assumption of satisfying

the need of self with needs of the body. These help the readers to understand the type of

nature self and body. The authors also provide exercise to check the understanding of the

readers.

Chapter 6: Harmony in the self- Understanding myself, is an extension of the previous

chapter and develops the need for understanding and studying oneself. The chapter focuses

on the two categories of attributes- the power (Shakti) and the activities (Kriya). The power

has been described as Desire (Ichchha), Thought (Vichara), Expectation (Asa) and the

activities include- Imaging (Chitrana), Analyzing (Vislesana) and Selecting/Tasting

(Chayana/Asvadana). Power has been referred to as the capacity of performing certain

activity, for this the authors show interconnection of activities with power. Inter-relation of

the activities is also demonstrated. The authors try and explain how activities of from the

outside (Body) affect the activities of the inside (self) and vice versa.

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Chapter 7: Harmony with the body- understanding Sanyama and Svasthya, extends the

discussion the harmony between body and the self. This harmony has been referred to in form

of Sanyama (Part of I) and Svasthya (Part of Body). While Sanyama- self regulation is the

feeling of responsibility in the self for nurturing, protection and right utilization of the body,

Svasthya is the conditioning of the body where every part of the body is performing its

expected function. The strong coupling between self and body extends to Sanyama and

Svasthya. Sanyama is essential for Svasthya. The self regulation is in reference to the timing

and quality of food, medication etc. Sanyama consists of nurturing the body (Posana),

Protection of the body (Sanrakshana), and Right utilization of the body (Sadupayoga). The

authors also recommend the basic steps for each part.

Chapter 8: Harmony in the Family-Understanding Values in human relationship, deals with

harmony at family level. Social dependency and interdependency has been seen as a bigger

web explaining the relationship between our family including teachers and friends.

Characteristics behind this relationship are determined and the main characteristic identified

is exchange. The author introduces justice as the recognition of values in a relationship and

discusses the four basic elements of justice (Nyaya). The intentions in the relationship affect

the trust. The trust is the foundation value (Adhara mulya) of all relations. The chapter also

deals with the natural characteristics (Svabhava) of the entity. While looking at the

competency the authors discuss process which might help in building of trust. Competence

might build up through values like Respect (Sammana), Affection (Sneha), Care (Mamata),

Guidance (Vatsalya), Reverence (Shraddha), Glory (Gaurava), Gratitude (Kritagyata), and

Love (Sneha). Relationship needs to be seen as an aid and not hindrance.

Chapter 9: Harmony in the society- from family order to world family order, discusses

individual and family level harmony in the third level of harmony of existence i.e., Society.

The chapter is based on the principle that people not only want to be happy but also make

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other people happy. This results in the undivided society (Akhanda Samaja). Four human

goals Right understanding, Prosperity, Fearlessness, and Co-existence facilitate the

fulfillment of the aspirations of human being. To achieve this human goals the endeavor

desired are Education, Health, Justice, Production, and Exchange. The chapter discusses the

different endeavor in details and also points out where an individual is presently stranded

with respect to the Human goals and endeavor.

Chapter 10: Harmony in nature- understanding the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment

discusses the harmony in the nature and looks into how the entities in nature are

interconnected and mutually fulfilling. The chapter introduces the fourth order i.e., human

order in addition to the material, plant and animal order. The salient aspects (Things,

Activity, Innateness, natural characteristic, Basic Activity, and Conformance) under each of

the four orders are discussed and summarized in the chapter. The authors discuss where the

present standing of the human being which is no different than living like an animal and also

proposes conscious development as the way out of this kind of life.

Chapter 11: harmony in existence-understanding existence as co-existence, discusses the

harmony in existence in the form of co-existence of all the units, namely material, plant,

animal, and human, in space (Sunya). Existence has been referred to as nature submerged in

space and this nature includes the four orders which have been discussed in the previous

chapters and is also referred to as units.

Chapter 12: Providing the basis for universal human values and ethical human conduct,

discusses the implication of this right understanding to carve out a holistic alternative.

Values under the material things have been categorized as Utility value and Artistic value.

The universal value naturally inculcates from the right understanding and cannot be forced

through fear or greed or false beliefs. This right understanding also enables us to identify the

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definitiveness of ethical human conduct helping the human being to transform from animal

consciousness to human consciousness. The chapter concludes with the implications of the

value based living at the four order levels.

Chapter 13: Basis for the Holistic Alternative towards universal Human Order, being an

extension of chapter 12 helps in visualization of comprehensive human goals through right

understanding. The authors discuss the basis of the humanistic education and humanistic

constitution which is understanding of harmony. Finally using the basis the universal human

order is being visualized at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 14: Professional ethics in the light of right understanding, starts by defining

profession and addresses the issues pertaining to the unethical conduct of profession which

has become a widespread concern. The authors take an attempt to make the readers visualize

the real competence in professional ethics and how it is ensured. The competence can be

manifested by clarity of goals, confidence in oneself, mutually fulfilling behavior and

mutually enriching interactions. The authors discuss the dilemmas and contradictions for

various unethical practices for profit maximization. The authors suggest right understanding

as the solution to these dilemmas and contradictions.

Chapter 15: Vision for holistic technologies, production system and management models,

provides a vision of a model of living which is inherently conducive to the needs of all

human beings and also compatible with nature. The chapter focuses on identifying the salient

criteria for developing these appropriate technologies, production system, and management

models. The authors also suggest various individual criteria for technology, production

system, and management models. The authors suggest that we need to learn from the system

of the nature and traditional practices and live in harmony at all levels.

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 Chapter16: Journey towards the holistic alternative- the road ahead, being the last chapter

briefly recapitulates the core message of the book and then helps in visualizing the steps that

each of us need to take to transform from our present state towards a holistic way of life.

After discussing the transition required at various levels (the four orders), the authors believe

that to expedite transition towards holistic alternative, mass awareness and wide spread of

humanistic education is necessary. All in all, the book can be treated as a basic primer,

despite delving into foundations of Indian philosophy, and the use of many Sanskrit words.

The USP of this book are the frameworks that are aimed at facilitating students to be able to

become authentic through self-exploration. The book would therefore be helpful for those

who seek self contention and ethical education. However, the book may fall short of

expectations of the management educators or practitioners as it doesn’t provide standardized

solutions to the current unethical behavior.

Review by-

Tinu Jain, FP Student (Marketing, 2nd year) & Ramendra Singh, Assistant Professor
(Marketing)

IIM Calcutta

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