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Varadaraja V Raman
Transdisciplinarity as the Seacrh for Unity behind the Diversity


Abstract

We all belong to the same biological species, or as we say in more humanistic terms, we are all members of the same large human family; religiously speaking, children of the same cosmic creative principle. An aspect of the human condition is that we form groups and subgroups which are sometimes mutually cooperative, sometimes mutually combative. The major factors that unite and divide us are race (a no longer acceptable term, but may refer simply to superficial skin-color distinctions), religion (a mighty force that has both noble and ignoble sides) and language (which is beautiful and endearing only to those who understand it). These three factors also form the basic elements of human culture. Culture is situated in Nature.

The world of nature is characterized by a plethora of elements which range from stones and sand to living organisms and stars and galaxies. All these are situated in the Cosmos.

The variety in the world, whether in the biological and human context, or in the physical and astronomical context, may well be a necessary condition for a universe to exist as a stable complex entity. And this variety also contributes to the aesthetic splendor of the world.

But the separateness that is inevitable in variety is also cause for unpleasantness and harshness sometimes, for humans in many ways and for other animals in other ways. It tends to cover up the commonalty that unites everything, and promotes feeding on one another. A more rewarding appraisal and appreciation of the world may be gained by regarding the world not as a seamless smooth entity (which it is in a larger metaphysical and even biological sense), nor by focusing always on the differences (which are there to stay), but rather as a colorful quilt woven together to create a wondrous whole. Transdiciplinarity may then be looked upon as the understanding of unity behind the diversity, an ancient uplifting theme. It seeks to explore the binding as well as the splintering features of the complex world of culture and nature.

This paper will examine transdisciplinarity from these considerations so as to make the human experience intellectually satisfying and spiritually fulfilling also.

Biography

Dr. Varadaraja V. Raman received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Calcutta before doing his doctoral work on the foundations of quantum mechanics at the University of Paris where he worked under Louis de Broglie. He has taught in a number of institutions, including the Saha Institute for Nuclear Physics in Calcutta, the Universite d'Alger in Algiers and the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, from where, after serving as professor of Physics and Humanities, he has retired as Emeritus Professor.

He was associated with the UNESCO as an educational expert. Dr. Raman has also devoted several years to the study and elucidation of Hindu culture and religion. He is an associate editor in the eighteen volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism Project. Dr. Raman has authored scores of papers on the historical, social, and philosophical aspects of physics/science, as well as on India's heritage, and has authored eight books including Scientific Perspectives, Glimpses of Ancient Science and Scientists, Nuggets from the Gita, and Varieties of Science History.

Dr. Raman serves on the board of the Metanexus Insitute and is a regular contributor to its online magazine.



 

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