The book presents the notion of unity in diversity in the context of globalization and multiculturalism. Philosophically speaking, the concepts of unity and diversity have been contested in classical and modern theories; for instance, Plato’s idea of harmony and goodness, Aristotle’s phronesis or practical wisdom (teleology), Kant’s categorical imperative (deontology), and Mill’s utilitarianism (consequentialism) on the one hand and purusarthas divided into abhyudaya and nihsreyas, etc. on the other. These theories give rise to the concept of diversity but jointly somehow they emerge as unity in diversity. In the era of globalization and multiculturalism, teleology, deontology, consequentialism and so on have been described, critiqued and even appreciated and appropriated from pluralistic perspective. With globalization and multiculturalism, human life is affected not only insofar as market is concerned, but also the ethnical, cultural and linguistic identities are equally affected. However, unlike globalization, multiculturalism endorses the role of the State in protecting and safeguarding the rights of diverse cultural groups, values and practices, marriage and settlements, property and inheritance, etc. so that members of each cultural community should become the valid participants in the civil and democratic life in the globalized world. The perspectives of, and the conflict between individual needs and rights, and group needs and rights, have been conceptualized under liberalism and communitarianism. It is proposed to be achieved by developing cultural transformations in the era of globalization, thus creating reasonable exclusion on broader values. The effort is to allow these values to inform and reinforce each other for the possible foundations of multiculturalism, specially cosmopolitanism in the globalized world. CONTENTS Preface Introduction 1. Culture: Affinity and Diversity On Culture Indian Culture Contact, Conflict and Confluence Astronomy, Mathematics and Grammar Sanātana Dharma or Perennial Duty Plurality or Ekam Sat Viprā Bahudhā Vadanti Indian Hermeneutics Dialogue Dialectic Questioning as an Enquiring Act Deferring Analogical Approach Synthesis Aphorisms/Metaphors Sri Aurobindo on Indian Culture Indians Are Barbarians Indian Culture Lacks Morality Hinduism Is Religion, not Philosophy Hinduism Turns Away from Nature Pessimism in Hinduism Critique of Irrationality in Hinduism Hinduism as Metaphysical and Other-worldly Neo-Hinduism and Neo-Vedānta Tilak’s Account of Inter-Faith Harmony The Karma-Yoga Comparative Metaphysics and Epistemology Comparative Hermeneutics Comparative Ethics Pluralistic Perspective on “the Other” Jaina Anekāntavāda and Karuṇā in Buddhism Violence as Dehumanizing the “Other” Gandhi on Non-violence as a Principle for Recognizing the “Other” Tolerance as Another Principle for Recognizing the “Other” 2. Liberalism: Pluralistic Perspective on Identity, Liberty, Secularism, Human Rights, Justice and Peace Kant on Indian Philosophy, Society and Polity 105 3. Globalization: Plurality of Processes, Interaction of Cultures and Values Globalization: Technological, Economic, Political and Cultural Dimensions Moral Dilemmas in the Era of Globalization 4. Diversity in Multiculturalism: Fusion of Cultural Horizon Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity, Liberalism and Communitarianism Conclusion Bibliography Index