Amer N. Raja
Understanding Nature as a whole, marvelous and fine-tuned system, is the very basis for right socio-politico-economic thought and consequently for correct socio-politico-economic decision-making and action. Nature consists of the cosmos, its objects and components as well as the planet Earth including its living and non living things. Although Man is also a part of Nature, we will study it separately because of his special characteristics and thinking capabilities. The important thing to note is that the Universe has a system without any human existence but this fact does not exclude the necessity of some power to manage this system.
As per our understanding, based on senses, there is no effect without cause, no system without some governing force; therefore it necessitates having some power or authority to run it. Besides, that highly sophisticated system definitely needs to have a Creator as well as a Maintainer.
It is very important to understand Nature (cosmos, planet, man etc.) for without its proper understanding, no one can ever be a good Economist just like one cannot become a good footballer without proper knowledge of the rules, field, football and players.
Cosmic system:
There are billions of galaxies in the universe. Then, there are the planets, the stars and moons. They are moving in a certain pattern. There are complex and numerous gases which are very essential for the maintaining of that system. This is a very intricate system but is intact and working on some unknown pattern.
The planet Earth has its own surface and atmosphere conducive for particular kinds of living beings. There is air and water, rivers and oceans, mountains and valleys, fruits and vegetables, trees and plants, minerals and stones, gases and liquids and many other things. Further, there are different kinds of animals, insects, birds and fish, etc. who do not have any knowledge of good and evil. They act on their instincts and there is no change in their pattern since known times. They are neutral to everything by default.
As we all know, all living beings both animals and plants at least need some food as well as some shelter for survival. The Creator of Nature has provided all the basic elements like air, water, light, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc., required for living. Based on their instincts they know their ways to get food from nature and means and suitable place for shelter. There is also a very sophisticated system of extinction and reproduction. The pollination by the insects, birds and air for immovable living beings (mainly plant) is there. There is a natural balance through fire, death, floods, evaporation, fertilizer and rain. Cattle eat grass, lion hunts deer, vulture eats carrion, insects eat leftovers and helps in decomposition, and so on and so forth... Probably there is neither pleasure nor pain or there is complete consolation. That system works in some intricate mechanical pattern without any emotions attached.
Now comes another animal, Man:
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet,
to me, what is this quintessence of dust?
As per our understanding, based on senses, there is no effect without cause, no system without some governing force; therefore it necessitates having some power or authority to run it. Besides, that highly sophisticated system definitely needs to have a Creator as well as a Maintainer.
It is very important to understand Nature (cosmos, planet, man etc.) for without its proper understanding, no one can ever be a good Economist just like one cannot become a good footballer without proper knowledge of the rules, field, football and players.
Cosmic system:
There are billions of galaxies in the universe. Then, there are the planets, the stars and moons. They are moving in a certain pattern. There are complex and numerous gases which are very essential for the maintaining of that system. This is a very intricate system but is intact and working on some unknown pattern.
The planet Earth has its own surface and atmosphere conducive for particular kinds of living beings. There is air and water, rivers and oceans, mountains and valleys, fruits and vegetables, trees and plants, minerals and stones, gases and liquids and many other things. Further, there are different kinds of animals, insects, birds and fish, etc. who do not have any knowledge of good and evil. They act on their instincts and there is no change in their pattern since known times. They are neutral to everything by default.
As we all know, all living beings both animals and plants at least need some food as well as some shelter for survival. The Creator of Nature has provided all the basic elements like air, water, light, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc., required for living. Based on their instincts they know their ways to get food from nature and means and suitable place for shelter. There is also a very sophisticated system of extinction and reproduction. The pollination by the insects, birds and air for immovable living beings (mainly plant) is there. There is a natural balance through fire, death, floods, evaporation, fertilizer and rain. Cattle eat grass, lion hunts deer, vulture eats carrion, insects eat leftovers and helps in decomposition, and so on and so forth... Probably there is neither pleasure nor pain or there is complete consolation. That system works in some intricate mechanical pattern without any emotions attached.
Now comes another animal, Man:
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet,
to me, what is this quintessence of dust?
(Shakespeare)
Man is the most dynamic and versatile of all animals. He can crawl like insect, walk like baboon, hop like kangaroo, run like cheetah, swim like fish, glide like bird (with material aid) and above all, he can think and innovate. In physical appearance and habits it shares many things with other member of its genre (animals). However, it is very different when it comes to his spiritual, intellectual and even physical capabilities. He has a free will. He is a thinking being. He has knowledge of the things. He has innate knowledge of good and evil. He is superior to all other animals and overcome other animals to a considerable extent. Also, species of all other animals are quite homogenous while the variations among men are enormous. The greater the abilities, the greater the challenges. Moreover, man has the ability to innovate as well as the special faculty to lie. Because of these characteristics laws of wild animal world does not apply to human world. Further, with man it is not matter of survival but of thrival, of excellence, of understanding, of self actualization and of pursuing truth and prosperity to be happy.
Cosmos, planet and other creatures were there but when man enters in this equation, he starts interpreting. As he interprets, there emerge different views about the nature and phenomenon. Some are contradictory to facts therefore some interpretations are absolutely wrong.
Knowledge is typical to man. Knowledge and the process of acquisition, application and transfer are of utmost importance for clearer understanding and correct conclusions.
Understanding of nature and man is an activity conducted by man to give form to fields of knowledge like Economics. In the prevalent economic school of thoughts, human psychology is well taken into account but nature is not given due credit. However, nature plays a pivotal role in economic well being of an individual/s as well as group/s.
Let's take the example of a football game. A person knows all the tricks of the game but does not have any idea of the field. If there is no field, no game is possible. How can weather and altitude affect the game? These are all important for one to become a good player.
Economics and Nature
Study of nature is very important for Economics. Natural resources and geography are
the bases of individual as well as group's wealth. All our food, energy and even travel is based on nature. Sunshine, rain, air, wood, minerals, oil, gas, etc is a complete set of resources made available for humans. Further, micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses can jeopardize any human system.
In one way or other all places have their own natural advantages. Wealth of individual or a group is measured by the amount of goods and assets owned. Raw assets like oil, fertile land, gold or any other mine, availability of fresh water, sea, etc are the main constituents of wealth.
In the bygone days, when there would have been no money, barter was the probable medium of exchanging material things and would have consisted of substantial amount of natural resources possessed.
Value Added:
However, as the society develops, man is bestowed with knowledge of the mechanism of the things. Discoveries and inventions result in adding value to raw products which in some instances increase the value of final products manifold. Never the less, we see sharp differences in progress of some societies rather than in others. It is, at this point, the systematic study under specialized fields of Social Sciences that helps in understanding and formulating a better system for a society’s optimal working for the benefits of its members.
Keeping things in the right perspective ensures right understanding and smooth functioning. As a good physician cannot be a good specialist if he has not good understanding of the whole system (human body): its components, their inter-relationships, effects on other parts, limitations etc. Similarly, no one can be a good economist without having good understanding of the whole system.
In a nutshell, nature is extremely vast and has its own system of working. Man is only one part of that Nature. Nature is not dependant on man but man is dependent on Nature. Further, man can make use of Nature (human as well as general) for his own betterment. This is the area where study of socio-politico-economics can help.
Man is the most dynamic and versatile of all animals. He can crawl like insect, walk like baboon, hop like kangaroo, run like cheetah, swim like fish, glide like bird (with material aid) and above all, he can think and innovate. In physical appearance and habits it shares many things with other member of its genre (animals). However, it is very different when it comes to his spiritual, intellectual and even physical capabilities. He has a free will. He is a thinking being. He has knowledge of the things. He has innate knowledge of good and evil. He is superior to all other animals and overcome other animals to a considerable extent. Also, species of all other animals are quite homogenous while the variations among men are enormous. The greater the abilities, the greater the challenges. Moreover, man has the ability to innovate as well as the special faculty to lie. Because of these characteristics laws of wild animal world does not apply to human world. Further, with man it is not matter of survival but of thrival, of excellence, of understanding, of self actualization and of pursuing truth and prosperity to be happy.
Cosmos, planet and other creatures were there but when man enters in this equation, he starts interpreting. As he interprets, there emerge different views about the nature and phenomenon. Some are contradictory to facts therefore some interpretations are absolutely wrong.
Knowledge is typical to man. Knowledge and the process of acquisition, application and transfer are of utmost importance for clearer understanding and correct conclusions.
Understanding of nature and man is an activity conducted by man to give form to fields of knowledge like Economics. In the prevalent economic school of thoughts, human psychology is well taken into account but nature is not given due credit. However, nature plays a pivotal role in economic well being of an individual/s as well as group/s.
Let's take the example of a football game. A person knows all the tricks of the game but does not have any idea of the field. If there is no field, no game is possible. How can weather and altitude affect the game? These are all important for one to become a good player.
Economics and Nature
Study of nature is very important for Economics. Natural resources and geography are
the bases of individual as well as group's wealth. All our food, energy and even travel is based on nature. Sunshine, rain, air, wood, minerals, oil, gas, etc is a complete set of resources made available for humans. Further, micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses can jeopardize any human system.
In one way or other all places have their own natural advantages. Wealth of individual or a group is measured by the amount of goods and assets owned. Raw assets like oil, fertile land, gold or any other mine, availability of fresh water, sea, etc are the main constituents of wealth.
In the bygone days, when there would have been no money, barter was the probable medium of exchanging material things and would have consisted of substantial amount of natural resources possessed.
Value Added:
However, as the society develops, man is bestowed with knowledge of the mechanism of the things. Discoveries and inventions result in adding value to raw products which in some instances increase the value of final products manifold. Never the less, we see sharp differences in progress of some societies rather than in others. It is, at this point, the systematic study under specialized fields of Social Sciences that helps in understanding and formulating a better system for a society’s optimal working for the benefits of its members.
Keeping things in the right perspective ensures right understanding and smooth functioning. As a good physician cannot be a good specialist if he has not good understanding of the whole system (human body): its components, their inter-relationships, effects on other parts, limitations etc. Similarly, no one can be a good economist without having good understanding of the whole system.
In a nutshell, nature is extremely vast and has its own system of working. Man is only one part of that Nature. Nature is not dependant on man but man is dependent on Nature. Further, man can make use of Nature (human as well as general) for his own betterment. This is the area where study of socio-politico-economics can help.
