Knowledge Society vis-a-vis Ethical Society
In tune with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the mission Towards Knowledge Societies, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram and Christ University in collaboration with Globethics.net India organize a national conference on 20 July 2019 to investigate critically and creatively the content, scope, management, and politics of the knowledge both at the local and global levels with special reference to Ethics and Values Education in Higher Education.
UNESCO identified four pillars of learning: 1. Learning to know, 2. Learning to do 3. Learning to live together, and 4. Learning to be <https://unesdoc. unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000109590>. Learning Ethics and Values are necessary for the individuals to become fully human and to make the Knowledge Society that generates, shares, and makes available knowledge to all members of the society to bring justice, solidarity, democracy, peace, also an Ethical Society, where people contribute to the building up of a just and compassionate society.
As we move to the fourth industrial revolution, charged by the exponential growth of innovations and inventions in the fields of mobile technology, nano-physics, internet of things, genetics, robotics, etc., blurring and merging the distinction between real and virtual, physical and mental, biological and technical, intellectual and AI, and so on. Fundamental questions are raised in the aesthetic, moral, political and spiritual dimension of human life. The ever increasing economic, educational, digital, information and knowledge divides and the problems involved in the knowledge management in the local, national and global communities also challenge the noble goals of living together in harmony and well being of all. Increasingly we are aware of the fact that industrial revolutions and innovations and inventions in science and technology do not bring in sustainable growth, development and happiness for all. When the world’s knowledge and economic wealth is growing impressively, the scandal of inequalities, corruption, new forms of poverty and exploitations are on the increase. Human rights are often violated; multinationals pose threats to local industries and initiatives; international aid is used irresponsibly for selfish motives. Science and technology are to be complemented by arts, humanities, social sciences, and indigenous know-how and religious wisdom.
In this inter-disciplinary educational innovations, ethics education is imperative for all disciplines. As ethics is fundamental to all of the judgments and practices that constitute the stream of life, Ethics education is to be integral part of Educational Innovations. We need ethically guided and aligned knowledge society where economics and politics are for the well being of all (third pillar of education). Personal and social ethics can make a positive difference in all fields human life and society including science, economics and politics, and ethics education is necessary for all stakeholders - teachers, students, professionals, institutions, etc. To be fully human, one needs to be ethical and as in all other significant aspects of human life, education is necessary to bring out this goal (fourth pillar of education).
The National Conference provides scholars with a forum to present and share the fruits of their research examining and showcasing the scale, scope, and complexity in different branches of knowledge, contributing to humanity’s journey towards Knowledge Society and Ethical Society.
The papers could be published, after peer review, in the next two volumes of Journal of Dharma
