B.R. Ambedkar and Social Transformation: Revisiting the Philosophy and Reclaiming Social Justice by Jagannatham Begari

Author:Jagannatham Begari [Begari, Jagannatham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780367355500
Google: BXZrzgEACAAJ
Goodreads: 58064986
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2021-09-30T00:00:00+00:00

This is the politics of fraternity. To him, the fraternity can establish real equality and liberty in a political society. Ambedkar writes, “Fraternity is another name for fellow feeling, fellowship and human solidarity. It consists of a sentiment which leads an individual to identify himself with the good of others whereby the good of others becomes to him a thing naturally and necessarily to be attended to like any of the physical conditions of our existence” (Ambedkar, 1987: p. 44). He cited a long passage of J. S. Mill’s idea of fraternity (Ibid). According to Ambedkar, in individualism and anarchism and Hindu social order, the question of fraternity is missing. To him, the fraternity can resolve both problems. He pointed out the limitation of fraternity in India etymological meaning, he must have probably thought of Maitri to replace fraternity. Maitri is to cultivate friendliness with all beings in terms of ethics. Fraternity is to develop common good in a political society and Maitri is to pursue a good life in social life, both are complementary to each other. Fraternity is the initial step, and Maitri is to develop positive loving-kindness for every human and non-human being. Here, the question is how the ideas of fraternity can respond to liberalism, communitarianism and Marxism.

The debate over good life or common good has taken a deep root in one’s conception of life that may be derived from religion, tradition, culture or practising civic political virtue as cherishing values. Generally, the idea of the common good or good society is connected with people sharing common good for the larger good. Martin Fuchs argues inline of Ambedkar’s Dhamma as Common good (Fuchs, 2019: pp. 364–413). In his standard of humans life, the individual good promotes social good. To him, either individual or social good has any place in Hindu society. It is in a democracy, the idea of the social common good is available only in political democratic life, of which state and constitution are part. In this context, fraternity could be a common social good for a good society. Ambedkar’s fraternity is imperative to common social good is a foundational part of social democracy and Buddhist ethics.

Fraternity is the name for the disposition of an individual to treat men as the object of reverence and love and the desire to be in unity with his fellow beings …. These sentiments are of the essence of fraternity. Fraternity strengthens socialties and gives to each individual a stronger personal interest in practically consulting the welfare of others. It leads him to identify his feelings more and more with their good, or at least with an even greater degree of practical consideration for it. With a disposition to fraternity he comes as though instructively to be conscious of himself as being one who of course pays a regard to others. (Ambedkar, 1987: pp. 97–98)

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