The Seven Blunders of The World: Leading To Violence?
London, UK - 16th December 2010, 13:40 GMT
Dear ATCA Open & Philanthropia Friends
[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]
The 'Seven Blunders of the World' is a list that Mahatma Gandhi gave to his grandson Arun Gandhi, written on a piece of paper, on their final day together, shortly before his assassination on 30th January 1948. They are:
1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle
Gandhi outside 10 Downing Street, London,1931
This list grew from Gandhi's search for the roots of violence. He called these the acts of passive violence. If one could prevent these acts of passive violence, Gandhi believed, perhaps greater acts of violence could be averted… What are your views about the seven blunders of the world? Are you witness to any of them in your daily life? Are the trends decelerating, accelerating or stable in your view?
8th Blunder
To Gandhi's original list, Arun Gandhi added an eighth blunder, rights without responsibilities. According to Arun Gandhi, the idea behind the first blunder originates from the feudal and neo-feudal practices of large scale land ownership and wealth management. He also suggests that the first and the second blunders are interrelated.
Other Blunders
One can add to these blunders: "Technology without direction", "Connection without community", "Teaching without joy" and "Learning without hope."
Background
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar, India. He came to study law at the University College London, England, in 1888 and worked as a Barrister in South Africa towards the end of the 19th century. Based on his experiments with non-violence, he led India's movement for independence from British rule and is one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 20th century. In 1948 he was assassinated by an extremist who opposed his tolerance for all creeds and religions. Gandhi is honoured by his people as the father of the Indian nation and is called 'Mahatma', which means Great Soul.
[ENDS]
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