The Argumentative Indian - Amartya Sen

Notes on 'The Argumentative Indian' - Amartya Sen

EXPLANATION

The Argumentative Indian is a book written by Nobel Prize winning Indian economist Amartya Sen. It is a collection of essays that discuss India's history and identity, focusing on the traditions of public debate and intellectual pluralism. Martha Nussbaum says the book "demonstrates the importance of public debate in Indian traditions generally."

The Argumentative Indian has brought together a selection of writings from Sen that outline the need to understand contemporary India in the light of its long argumentative tradition. The understanding and use of this argumentative tradition are critically important, Sen argues, for the success of India's democracy, the defence of its secular politics, the removal of inequalities related to class, caste, gender and community, and the pursuit of sub-continental peace.

The book takes the form of four sections containing linked essays: "Voice and Heterodoxy", "Culture and Communication", "Politics and Protest", "Reason and Identity". The first section looks at the general culture of pluralistic debate within India, dating back to Buddha and kings such as Ashoka. The second section seeks to restore the reputation of Rabindranath Tagore as an intellectual polymath, combining spiritual and political ideas, and explores India's relationship to other cultures, including the West and China, especially the peaceful and intellectually rewarding cross-fertilising relationship between the two great Asian cultures. The third section looks at conflicts of class and criticises inequalities in Indian society and arguments that have been used to justify them. Finally, the book explores modern cultures of secularism and liberalism in an Indian context.

Amartya Sen's own political agenda is clear for all to see and is wholly admirable. Given the virtue of Sen's position, to which nearly all of us would subscribe, it is hard to have to say that "The Argumentative Indian" proves on close reading to be a flawed book. This is because Sen does not go beyond stating self-evident truths. Although nicely written, and with many points of interest, there is a thinness and superficiality about the whole that displeases. [...] My greatest disappointment with this book is that its use of history is as unscrupulous and trivialising as that of those Sen wishes to bring down. "The Argumentative Indian" is not sufficiently thoughtful and serves as a forceful reminder that history is constantly being used in a dangerously naive way.

WHY THE NOVEL MATTERS – D.H. LAWRENCE

Notes on Why the Novel Matters by D.H. Lawrence

Why the Novel Matters by DH Lawrence

Explanation of the Essay

D.H. Lawrence begins by challenging the common belief that humans are primarily a soul, mind, or spirit housed within a body. He calls this notion a “funny superstition” and argues that every part of the body is equally alive, as opposed to inanimate objects like a bottle or jug.

Key Ideas:

1. The Unity of the Body and Mind:
   Lawrence questions the distinction between the mind and body, asserting that both are interconnected. For instance, the hand that writes is just as alive and capable of learning as the mind that directs it.

2. The Body as Fully Alive:
   Lawrence emphasizes that every part of the body, from skin to hair, is full of life. Unlike inanimate objects, each part of a living body is interconnected and dynamic.

3. The Novel’s Unique Perspective:

   • A novelist understands and portrays life in its entirety, including both the physical and spiritual dimensions.
   • Philosophers, scientists, and others focus on isolated aspects of life, while novelists depict the "whole man alive."

4. Life and Change:

   • Life is dynamic and ever-changing. Lawrence highlights how humans and their relationships evolve over time.
   • He contrasts living individuals, who embrace change, with those who conform to rigid patterns, effectively becoming “dead” in life.

5. Morality and Relativity:
   Lawrence criticizes absolute notions of right and wrong. He argues that what is right in one situation may be wrong in another, making morality relative.

6. The Novel as a Guide to Life:

   • Novels show how people live authentically and how they deviate from genuine living.
   • A novel helps readers navigate the complexities of life without being bogged down by rigid theories or moral absolutes.

Key Analogy:

Lawrence compares the human body to living skin and blood, contrasting it with inanimate objects like jugs or bottles, which remain lifeless inside and out.

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Summary

In Why the Novel Matters, D.H. Lawrence celebrates the novel as a unique art form that addresses the whole human experience—body, mind, and spirit—unlike philosophy, science, or religion, which focus on isolated aspects of life. He argues against the traditional separation of body and soul, highlighting that life is found in every part of a living being.

Lawrence critiques absolute moral principles, advocating for a perspective that embraces the relativity of right and wrong. He asserts that the novel, by exploring how individuals live and change, surpasses other disciplines in helping people understand life’s unpredictability and complexity.

In his view, the novel is the "bright book of life," surpassing all other forms of knowledge because it captures the wholeness of existence, guiding readers to live authentically and meaningfully.