HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS by Tonybee

HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Arnold J. Toynbee

Arnold Joseph Toynbee  (14 April 1889 – 22 October 1975) was a British historian, philosopher of history, research professor of International History at the London School of Economics and the University of London and author of numerous books. Toynbee was a leading specialist on international affairs during 1918–1950.

He is best known for his 12-volume A Study of History (1934–61), through which he examined the rise and fall of 26 civilizations in the course of human history, and he concluded that they rose by responding successfully to challenges under the leadership of creative minorities composed of elite leaders. With his endless output of papers, articles, speeches and presentations, and numerous books translated into many languages, Toynbee was perhaps the world’s most read and discussed scholar in the 1940s and 1950s. Yet Toynbee's work lost favor among both the general public and scholars by the 1960s, due to the religious and spiritual outlook that permeates the largest part of his work.

He gave a lecture on the human values to the Indian people. In that lecture, he appreciated Indian attitude towards life and approach to the handling of human affairs. Indian people’s freedom and rancor impressed and touched him deeply. Though there are situations where the Indian people are forced to struggle with other people, Indians never have the hatred towards their adversaries. For example India’s freedom movement. After getting the freedom, they never brood over the past or nurse their grievances. Inviting a British to deliver a lecture resembles their attitude and their professional ethics.

He has more appreciation towards Gandhi who fought for his people and for his nation through non-violence way. Gandhiji made it impossible for the Britishers to go on ruling India and made Britishers withdraw without disgrace.

Through this Toynbee helped not only India but also British. He stopped the struggle to not to take a violent form. If it took a violent form there would not be peace for either party. In such a way Gandhiji saved Britain as well as India. He did everything by inspiring the people of India to keep the struggle on a spiritual plane that was above the level of mere politics.

Non- violent revolution is a characteristic Indian accomplishment. After its success, it has found a new field of action in India’s domestic life. Bhoodan movement is one among them.

In 1945, the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Now we are all living in the atomic age. In the hurricane of annihilating material power, mankind will not be able to save itself from self-destruction unless they practice non-violence in their relations.

In 1947, Indians did not feel difficult to follow non-violence method. But today they feel difficult in their relations with China. A spirit of non-violence is a state of feeling inspired by a moral ideal. It is a belief that there is more than one approach to truth and to salvation. This broad-minded approach to reality is characteristic of India.

Toynbee also quoted that we are all living in an age in which technology has annihilated distance. Though everyone is physically neighbors, but psychologically strangers to each others. Mutual destruction depends on how we are going to react..We have to love our neighbors as precious members of the human family, which is now exposed to the common danger of being wiped out by atomic warfare. That’s the reason India’s conspicuous achievement of variety in unity is of worldwide importance.

Even Gandhi had a vast amount of daily business to transact. yet he was never too busy to withdraw temporarily from business affairs for recurrent periods of contemplation. His practice on this point is characteristic of the Indian tradition.

Today the Indian people have many urgent and exacting practical tasks to carry out. But a mass of practical work required by the community development plan. Gandhi demonstrated that spiritual activity is the well-spring of practical activity and that this inspiration is what makes practical activity bear fruit and not work havoc.

Finally, he suggested spiritual art can help mankind to save itself from self-destruction.

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