Gandhian Humanism 

A Comparison of Gandhian Humanism and Capitalism / Socialism

Dimension	Gandhian-humanism (Actor-oriented)	Capitalism and socialism (Structure-oriented)
Basic unit	Actors (individuals, states, others)	Structures (positions and relations between them)
Basic dimension	Intention (good vs. evil) Capability(weak vs. strong) Presence (passive vs. active)	Repression vs. freedom Exploitation vs. equality Penetration vs. autonomy
Problems and locations of evil	Actors that are evil, strong, active	Structures that are exploitative, penetrating
How to cope	Make actors good	Make structures free and equitable
Basic approach	Focus on evil actors; building institutions to contain actors	Focus on wrong structures; transforming structures through revolutions
Time cosmology	Focus on act i.e. on events	Focus on structures i.e. permanents
Social Change; basic approach	Individual change and social reform	Capitalism on constitutional methods and socialism on revolution

 

            This classification suggests that the theoretical construct Gandhian  humanism is different from the main discourses of our time-capitalism and socialism in terms of focus, dimensions, basic approach and time cosmology.

The Praxis Dimension of Gandhian thought and Humanism

It is important to point out here that individual ethical dimension of Gandhian thought and modern humanist model have many commonalities. In other words, it is possible to interpret Gandhian thought in terms of modern ethical humanism. Besides this individual ethical dimension, Gandhian social programmes can also be juxtaposed with their corresponding modern humanistic elements in the following way.

 

Gandhian Individuals Ethics (Eleven vows)	Ethical Humanist Elements
Truth(experiential and experimental)	Truth, facticity, experiential and experimental
Nonviolence	Non-killing to human being and respect to other species
Brahmacharya or chastity	Control of desire, sexual morality
Non-possession	Limited use of local natural resources
Non-stealing	Individual commitment
Control of palate	Controlled consumption
Removal of Untouchability	Fight against indiscrimination
Equality of all religions	Acceptance of plurality and respect to all religion
Swadeshi	Use of local resource to help neighbours
Bread labour	Dignity of labour, self-respect
Fearlessness	Fearlessness against any authority political (State) or religious

 

     Summary of presentation made by Prof. Prem Anand Mishra, Dean, Faculty of Gandhian Studies, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India