Satisfaction derived from altruistic behavior

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

Thomas Paine and Ludwig von Mises held very different views on human nature, largely due to the different eras and philosophical traditions in which they wrote. 

Thomas Paine: Optimism and Natural Equality

Paine (1737-1809), a key figure of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution, held an optimistic view of human nature and the possibility of human perfectibility. 

• Inherent Goodness: He believed that "man, were he not corrupted by governments, is naturally the friend of man, and that human nature is not of itself vicious".
• Natural Rights and Equality: Paine asserted that all individuals are born naturally equal, with inherent natural rights (such as liberty, property, and security) that government is instituted to protect. He vehemently argued against traditional power structures like monarchy and aristocracy, which he saw as artificial impositions that violated this natural equality.
• Reason and Social Good: Paine had great faith in the ability of individuals to act according to reason and the "common good". He believed that with a just, representative government, people would cooperate for mutual benefit.
• Social Welfare: Reflecting his belief in a society based on the common good, Paine advocated for social welfare programs, such as state-financed universal education, pensions for the elderly, and a guaranteed minimum income, funded by a tax on landowners, as a way of ensuring social justice. 

Ludwig von Mises: Methodological Individualism and Scarcity 

Mises (1881-1973), an economist and philosopher of the Austrian School, viewed human action from a more systematic and analytical perspective, focusing on the universal fact of purposeful action in a world of scarcity. 

• Action as Purposeful Behavior: Mises's core concept, "praxeology," is the study of human action as the conscious pursuit of chosen ends using scarce means. This approach is value-neutral in a scientific sense, observing that humans act purposefully to remove "felt uneasiness," not judging their moral character.
• Inequality and Cooperation: In sharp contrast to Paine's emphasis on natural equality, Mises argued that "men are born unequal, and... it is precisely their inequality that generates social cooperation and civilization". Differences in individual talents and circumstances make the division of labor mutually beneficial and essential for societal progress.
• Rationality in the Market: Mises assumed that individuals are rational in the sense that they employ what they believe to be the best means to attain their desired ends. This does not mean they are perfectly rational or only motivated by monetary profit; it simply means their actions are aimed at improving their own state of satisfaction, even if that satisfaction is derived from altruistic behavior.
• Role of Government: Mises advocated for strict classical liberalism and limited government, primarily restricted to protecting private property and enforcing contracts. He viewed government intervention in the free market as counter-productive and a path to chaos, as it distorts the price signals necessary for rational economic calculation and social coordination. 

Summary of Differences

Feature	Thomas Paine	Ludwig von Mises
Core View of Nature	Optimistic; humans are naturally good, corrupted by bad government.	Analytical; humans act purposefully to alleviate uneasiness in a world of scarcity.
Equality	Stressed natural equality as a foundation for rights.	Argued that natural inequality drives social cooperation and civilization.
Role of Government	Essential for protecting natural rights and implementing social welfare for the common good.	Should be minimal, limited to securing peace and protecting property rights.
Methodology	Enlightenment philosophy, focused on natural law, reason, and utopian ideals.	Praxeology (the a priori science of human action), focused on logical deduction of economic laws.

In essence, Paine believed that society could be perfected through the application of reason to government reform, assuming an inherently good human nature. Mises, while also a liberal, viewed human action as an inescapable condition of scarcity and inequality, arguing that the market process, not government planning, was the only way to coordinate individual actions peacefully and effectively. 

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Did British Romanticism influence Sri Aurobindo's nationalism?

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

It is highly unlikely that Matthew Arnold influenced Sri Aurobindo's early fervor for nationalism; in fact, available evidence suggests the opposite. Sri Aurobindo had an attachment to European thought and literature, but specifically stated he was not attached to England as a country. 

Key points regarding Sri Aurobindo's nationalism and his view of Arnold:

• A Personal Aversion to English Rule: Sri Aurobindo's mission for India's liberation was a deep, personal resolve that began in his youth, long before his public political career. He developed a profound dislike for British rule while in England and perceived his mission as a divine impulse for India's freedom.
• "New Lamps for Old": Sri Aurobindo's public political life began with articles in Indu Prakash under the title "New Lamps for Old" where he vehemently denounced the moderate, pro-British policies of the Indian National Congress.
• Critique of English Society: Sri Aurobindo actually used Matthew Arnold's phrase "an aristocracy no longer possessed of the imposing nobility of mind" in one of his writings (likely an early political piece), but to critique the debased nature of the English middle class and lower classes, which he saw as "without any germ of high ideas". This indicates he was familiar with Arnold's work but used it to support his own anti-British colonial perspective, not as a source of nationalist inspiration.
• Other Influences: Sri Aurobindo's nationalism was primarily inspired by Indian spiritual and cultural ideals (Sanatan Dharma), leaders like Tilak, and a belief in India's unique spiritual destiny in the world. His Bande Mataram newspaper and other writings focused on complete independence and passive resistance, a strategy informed by a study of the British character and a belief in India's spiritual strength. 

Therefore, Matthew Arnold's ideas on culture and society were known to Sri Aurobindo, but they served as a point of critique of British society, not as an inspiration for his fervent Indian nationalism, which was rooted in indigenous spiritual and political thought.

- GoogleAI 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Can+Matthew+Arnold+be+said+to+have+influenced+Sri+Aurobindo%27s+early+fervor+for+Nationalism

The suggestion by someone named "Ulrich" in Situating Sri Aurobindo that British Romanticism influenced Sri Aurobindo's nationalism is a scholarly interpretation, and its validity is a matter of academic debate and perspective, rather than a universally accepted fact. 

Scholarly Context

• The book Situating Sri Aurobindo: A Reader (2013), edited by Peter Heehs, is a collection of essays that offer various scholarly interpretations of Sri Aurobindo's life and work. An argument within such a collection is typically an academic thesis that needs to be evaluated based on the evidence presented.
• The validity of "Ulrich's" specific argument regarding British Romanticism would depend on the evidence provided in his/her chapter and the reception of this specific argument among other scholars of Sri Aurobindo and Indian nationalism. The search results provide no direct information on this particular argument's reception. 

Dominant Interpretations of Sri Aurobindo's Nationalism

While a British Romanticism influence might exist, the prevailing scholarly consensus, as seen in the search results, emphasizes the following primary influences on Sri Aurobindo's concept of nationalism:

• Spiritual and Religious Foundation: Sri Aurobindo's nationalism is most notably described as "spiritual nationalism" or "religious sadhana" (spiritual discipline). He viewed the nation, specifically India, as a Mother Goddess (Shakti) and believed the freedom struggle was a divine mission rooted in the Sanatan Dharma (eternal truth/religion).
• Indian Philosophical Texts: His political and philosophical views were significantly influenced by the study of the Gita, Upanishads, and Vedanta. He sought to blend Indian philosophical idealism with Western thought.
• Bankimchandra Chatterjee: The Bengali author Bankimchandra's writings, especially the novel Anandamath and the song Bande Mataram, were a major inspiration for Sri Aurobindo's conception of the nation as "Mother". 

In conclusion, while an author in a scholarly book might suggest an influence of British Romanticism, the primary and dominant influences on Sri Aurobindo's nationalism, widely acknowledged in academic discourse, are rooted in Indian spirituality, philosophy, and the writings of contemporary Bengali figures like Bankimchandra. The validity of the Romanticism claim is debatable and less prominent than the spiritual interpretation. 

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https://www.google.com/search?q=But+Ulrich+in+Situating+Sri+Aurobindo+suggests+that+British+Romanticism+influenced+Sri+Aurobindo%27s+Nationalism.+Is+it+valid

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