1S) POE-2nd (22-12-2016) Bharghava Shyam (Tasos Kazepides)

 Name: - A.N. Bharghava Shyam

Admission Number: - MAE15007 (22-Dec-2018)

Question: -

Tasos Kazepides discuss two approaches; Empirical & Programmatic for determining human nature and criticizes both. What are these two approaches and how do they seek to determine what human nature is? According to Kazepides what are the limitations of these two approaches? Discuss.

Introduction:-

Tasos Kazepides is discussing about human nature in its educational dimensions. In this He is Saying Human Nature in four different ways with help of scientific & philosophical, political & spiritual reasons that are

1)    Empirical Statements about Human Nature  {Human Nature as a “Natural Given & Culture”}

2)    Programmatic Statements about Human Nature

3)    Universal Beliefs about Human Nature

4)    The Principles of rationality & Human Flourishing.

In Empirical statements Kazepides is saying about Science of Human beings (Anthropological, biological, psychological ways). & when it comes to Programmatic statements Kazepides is saying about Human nature in the perception of other philosophers like Rousseau, Plato, St. Paul, Maslow etc.

Answer:-

Human Nature is different in each scientific study, political study & spiritual study. Now we are only seeing scientific study, not political & Spiritual (Especially for Empirical).  Each have different characteristics in describing human nature. Programmatic statements are political study of Human Nature.

In my opinion scientific study is having evidence, observation, philosophy etc. political study may have policies, claims, etc. And in spiritual study may have myths.  Based on this human nature is defined [vaguely].

What are these two Approaches?

These are two, empirical and programmatic approaches of human nature.

In Empirical statements scientific study of human nature is there. In Empirical statements of Human Nature, Human Nature is determined as Natural “given” by biological, physiological study. And also Human Nature as Culture by Anthropological study on culture to determine human nature.

In Programmatic statements of Human nature, it (Human Nature) is the doctrine of political ideology of human nature. Through philosophical thoughts to determine human nature. In this Kazepides is saying the perceptions {Authoritative Ideas} of other philosophers like Plato, Saint Paul, Rousseau and Maslow is there to study Human Nature.

How do they seek to determine what Human Nature is?

Empirical statements about Human Nature: -

{In empirical statements Human Nature is dominated by culture and driven by biological needs}

In Empirical statement cultural, historical, natural things etc. will come in these we have a strong evidence, which comes from observation, experience on regular things in practical way. In Empirical statements Kazepides is saying about Human Nature as a natural given and also as a culture.

In Empirical statements Human Nature as a Natural given (This saying with help of Anatomy), He is saying that Natural Human is a Biological Human. Primarily humans are driven by biological desires. In Natural given Human nature is driven by Biological needs that are food, cloth, breathing, reproduction etc. & these all human nature driven process we can also see in Anatomy, physiology, etc. these all are the branches of biology. Man & Animals nature is same in only biological perspective.  But by characteristics, features, attributes, etc. by this we can differentiate between Human & other creatures. (Differentiations are Body Structure, Shape, using etc.)  But for this also certain boundaries are there in this which are Neurophysiological makeup etc. Which sets some certain boundaries.

In Human Nature as a culture some of the anthropologists says that “Humans have a nature of adaptive responses which shape him/her in Community / Society”. These adaptive responses are coming from cultural universals which almost people will follow such as religion, education, trade, language etc. these all the institutions which control the humans by this s/he comes to world. But in this some problems are there, that are “Fake Universals” which is having comparisons between institutions, values and customs.

Why these are called “Fake Universals” means these are having vague categories & not institutionalized (It can’t control individual). The cultural universal is an Institution in which Individual is controlled by some ethics, ideologies etc. In Fake universals these are not clearly mentioned that’s why it is called Fake Universal.

Programmatic Statements of Human Nature: -

In programmatic statements kazepides is giving the authoritative ideas of some philosophers like St. Paul, Plato, Rousseau, and Maslow. It is like the doctrines of political and spiritual ideologies of human nature said by them (Rousseau, Plato, Paul, Maslow etc.).

Saint Paul is saying in spiritual study that Human is in the Image of law of god. But s/he fight against that god & gets prison in name of Law of sin. Human life is fight between Law of God vs Law of Sin.

Plato is saying about Human Nature in Political (Doctrine) Study of Human. Plato gave tripartite principle which constructs a society. The Tripartite principles are Rational (Which wants reason & Knowledge for N), Sprit (it wants reputation & also victory) and Appetite (It wants Material gain & profit lover). Which are based on human psyche which determines human nature. His low view of Human Nature is between the intensions of reconstruct & evaluate on basis of this (His) tripartite principle.  {This helps in making rigid relation between social class according to this/his tripartite principle.}

Rousseau is saying that Human nature is naturally good, but society is meddle for that goodness. And society evils will destroy our natural goodness.

Abraham H Maslow say that Human Nature is either good or neutral but not bad.

These all are the some programmatic statements of Human Nature said by different philosophers.

Why these are called Programmatic Statements means, these (Terminology- Sprit, Rational, Appetite etc.) all are planned series which are willed by nature, human etc. It naturally there in human, but philosophers name with specific terminology. They programmed this in the form of statements. That’s why these are called Programmatic statements

The Study of Human Nature in Educational Dimensions is more influenced by political and Spiritual ideologies (Programmatic Statements) than empirical ideologies. (Empirical Statements)

According to Kazepides what are the limitations of these two approaches?

Limitations: -

In Empirical statement as a Natural Given main Limitation is. Human nature (स्वबाव) is obvious in nature (प्रकृति). It is ought to Humans. So it is basic limitation.

It (Empirical Statement) does not discuss about education it is another limitation.

In Empirical Statements as a Culture Main Limitation is Fake Universals.

In Programmatic Statements main limitation is, these statements are in disguised from empirical claims. It (Programmatic Statements) is having misconceptions it is the Basic limitation in this.  It may be controversial in Nature

Discuss?

For the Human Nature as a “Natural Given” limitation was little bit cleared by Human Nature as “Culture”. Here Kazepides saying this (Culture) little clear than natural given.  In Natural Given is ought to everyone, in culture based on universals it is not ought, but it is based on choice.   

In Human Nature as a Culture also limitations are there. That are Fake Universals which are created by unknown people. That they can’t control individual. They it will become problem to society, with this some problems will occur by giving over freedom without limits then it social problem. Example for this Indian Caste system. In Vedas 4 Varna’s are there. With over freedom so many castes came into existence & it became problem in society. (I think Caste may be Fake Universals)

In Programmatic statements Limitations are misconception based on the own doctrines of political and spiritual ideologies which are diversified in nature.

{My opinion: - In Political doctrines are may be mostly based on geographical area based on climate.  Which differs from place to place so may be doctrine changes. In Spiritual ideas are based on Ethics.}

Diversity is always problem to people and it surely affects Human Nature. Unity in Diversity is required for society welfare. (Secular).  

These are some of my explanations for “Discuss”

References: -

Tasos Kazepides- Human Nature & its educational Dimensions reading

Prakash Iyer- Class 2-3 PPT on Human Nature

Discussions with my mates.