A Dialogue Between East and West
by Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner
2020-05-07 19:19:38
A Dialogue Between East and West
by Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner
2020-05-07 19:19:38
How far do cultures affect the future of the planet? Can the debate on the environment and global warming be influenced by the cultures of East and West understanding each other better? In this provocative and wide-ranging dialogue, two of the most i...
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How far do cultures affect the future of the planet? Can the debate on the environment and global warming be influenced by the cultures of East and West understanding each other better? In this provocative and wide-ranging dialogue, two of the most influential thinkers of recent times propose that only a 'human revolution' - a fundamental shift in the hearts and minds of individuals - can stimulate a revolution in humanity's relationship with the planet. Such a planetary revolution first requires a transformation of moral and political leadership, and a hopeful orientation towards the children of the future rather than a misguided preoccupation with the short-termist policies of the present. Responding to humanity's ills from the Buddhist perspective, and with all the accumulated wisdom of the eastern philosophical tradition, Daisaku Ikeda calls for politicians to take as their mainstays a respect for the dignity of life and an eloquence to inspire in people a sense of appropriate community and courage. Correspondingly, renowned western economist and scholar of education Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner stresses the importance of proper educational planning and development in addressing the challenges posed by poverty, inequality and climate change. Citing important thinkers like Cervantes, Victor Hugo, Gandhi and Walt Whitman, these representatives of two different but complementary cultural and intellectual traditions, while acknowledging the scale of the task that lies ahead, offer an inspiring and hopeful vision for the future.
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