Rule: A given course of action is valid if it is an established fact that it solves or reduces the given problem.
The established fact may be a hard scientific fact, or it may be a fact from the social disciplines, whether historical or social or economic or cultural or political or any other. But it must be universally acknowledged as a solution to the given problem. For example, it is a scientific fact that venomous snake bites kill people unless proper medicines are administered in time. And it is a socially established fact that old people need to be looked after with as much care as we give our children. Examples Statement: An alarmingly high number of people are bitten by venomous snakes in Kotdwar in Uttarakhand every year. Valid course of action: Emergency anti-venom therapy clinics should be established in Kotdwar close to areas where the bites occur. Statement: Old people are unproductive and thus an economic burden on their family. Invalid course of action: Unproductive family elders should be ignored and left to look after themselves. Statement: AIDS is spreading rapidly among the youth in the north eastern parts of the country. Valid course of action: The youth of the north east of the country should be educated about the causes of the disease and the methods of its prevention, and those who are suffering should be given anti-retroviral therapy. This course of action is valid because it is a scientific fact that anti retro-viral therapy is the most effective medical response to AIDS. And it is equally true that awareness gives preparedness. Thus educating the youth of the north east of the country about the causes and methods of prevention of AIDS will create this awareness. Here the fundamental extra assumption is that knowledge is power. Statement: Far flung areas of the country with international borders have to deal with foreign intervention in their local matters. Invalid course of action: Since local issues are best administered locally, the states in which these areas lie should be given the power to deal with foreign countries independently. Here the problem is that, in many areas of our country lying on the international borders, we have foreign countries interfering in local matters. But the suggested solution is unconvincing because Indian states do not have the power to deal with foreign relations; only the central government has this power. Thus we can say that it is an established political fact that only the central government of India holds power over external affairs, i.e. that our states cannot deal with foreign nations on their own. The given course of action goes against this fundamental fact, which is why it is invalid. Rule: When the given problem is relatively new, such that the given course of action cannot be considered a universal fact, we will still consider the course of action correct on the basis of specific lessons repeatedly learnt. These experiences are certainly not facts in scientific terms, but they carry the weight of long felt experience. We cannot ignore the weight of that experience. For example, the past experience tells us that India got conquered by foreign powers only when it was disunited, even though it is not an established fact that foreign powers will conquer India every time the country develops lack of unity. Statement: China’s expansionist designs pose a threat to India. Valid course of action: Efforts should be made that the Indians remain united for any eventuality. Here is another example. Statement: It is fast becoming a common belief that corruption should be ignored because it is a fact of public and private life. Invalid course of action: Strict laws should be passed against corruption to stop it from taking place. The course of action is invalid. The fact is that problems of dowry and caste have not been solved even though strict laws have been passed against them. We can thus expect that passing laws against corruption will fail in a similar manner. This is not a scientific fact; rather it is repeated experience that tells us so. Rule: Logic and reasoning must be applied to get solutions to a new problem or situation, i.e. to problems and situations whose solutions are neither universally-acknowledged nor repeatedly experienced facts. For example, we may be told that the per capita income of a particular state in India has declined this year in relation to the last year. Here, even though we may know nothing about the economic conditions prevailing in that state, we can safely assume that the per capita income of the state will be the state’s total income divided by its population. Logically, therefore, there would be two valid courses of action available: 1. The state should make an effort to control its population growth. 2. The state should increase its economic productivity and GDP. Take another example. Statement: Unfortunately, there may soon be no tigers left in India. Course of action I: The tiger habitats within the country should be revitalized on an emergency basis to let this magnificent animal survive and thrive. Course of action II: Those who poach tigers should be severely punished. Course of action I is valid. It is valid on the basis of science. If we revitalize the country’s tiger habitats, it follows scientifically that tigers will have suitable conditions to survive as a species. But course of action II is invalid. It is invalid on the basis of the logic of experience. The existence of several anti-poaching laws and convictions of poachers has not led to a reduction in the incidents of poaching. It is therefore concluded that punishing tiger poachers is unlikely to lead to a reduction in incidents of tiger poaching. Rule: A valid course of action must tally with prevailing notions of truth. But notions of truth change from time to time and place to place. In the ancient and middle ages, physical and military training was considered essential for boys to be successful in life. But such is not the case in the modern times. Similarly, till as late as the nineteenth century, even small offences like stealing the handkerchief of a respectable lady was punishable by death in many countries. But today, no country’s laws would award the death penalty to a handkerchief thief. To take another example, an unfailing dose of physical punishment was the norm for disciplining erring children in all societies till very recently. But today, it is almost universally acknowledged that giving physical punishment to children often results in other than the intended effect. Statement: India’s railway tracks are old and overburdened, but the cost of their modernization is prohibitive. Valid course of action: Prospects of private investment in railway infrastructure should be explored. Note that, till not very long ago, a socialistic economy was our dream and method, and thoughts of Privatization would have been angrily brushed aside. Note: Prevailing notions of truth change from place to place as well. For example, even today, DDT is sprayed over large areas to kill mosquitoes and prevent malaria in several underdeveloped countries, including India. But it is banned in the advanced nations of the world because of its harmful side effects. Thus, spraying DDT would be a valid course of for preventing the spread of malaria in countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but it would be an invalid course of action in scientifically advanced countries like America, Canada, Japan and Germany, to name just few of them. 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November 2016
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