Re-understanding Deification and Hunger: An Ecocritical Venture into Shiva Purana

The advent of the Eighteenth Century witnessed emergence of a scientific temperament and shook the foundation of faith or religion in an unbelievable manner. Industrial Revolution, World Wars aggravated the situation and a conflict between science and religion has been prevalent since then. People began to neglect the mores and preaching of theological philosophy and even the tradition and customs handed down by religion or otherwise also culture. In the era of over-all degradation, it has become the need of the hour to restore theology, spiritual and mythical works for re-learning the meanings of humanity and wisdom, although the elimination of religious blindness needs to be done. It is discerned that people discard the ancient philosophy and myths to be irrational and non-scientific, but it is not true. Religion, ancient philosophy and conduct of life is intertwined intricately. In religion and culture, myths and folklores remain popular and are handed down from generation to generation and appear to be so fictional. But, in reality, they carry innumerable valuable messages and codes for life. So, this study intends to shed the irrationality and illuminate the rational and significant implications in the text Shiva Purana, which forms a part of the very precious Mahapuranas, spiritual and mythological text of Hindus. The paper would, however, attempt an ecocritical study of the specified text. As ecological concerns have called for urgent attention, ancient wisdom can assist scientific ideologies and thus, go hand in hand to unite humans to become environmentally sensitive.

Esteem and self-esteem as an interweaving polarity. Max Weber´s analysis from the Protestant ethic to the ideal-type of politician

Although Max Weber does not specifically analyze the topic of esteem, his investigation of the Protestant ethic offers interesting insights into it. The change in mentality it engendered essentially contributed to enhancing the meaning and importance of esteem in modern society. In his analysis, Weber ascertains that esteem was fundamental to being accepted and integrated into the social life of congregations. Nevertheless, he also highlights that esteem was supported by a form of self-esteem which was not simply derived from a good social reputation, but also achieved through a deep and continual self-analysis as well as a strict discipline in the ethical conduct of life. The present analysis reconstructs the different aspects of the relationship between social and self-esteem and analyzes the consequences of that relationship by focusing on the exemplary case of the politician’s personality and ethic.

Calendar as a mediating technology of organization

This chapter dwells on the calendar and more specifically on personal time management systems as a technology that mediates between the organization and the individual. The calendar is discussed as a technical medium of standardization and modularization as well as a medium of cultural synchronization, which provides an interface between the demands of an organization and those of its employees. Following Weber’s claim on the interrelatedness of capitalism and the Christian conduct of life, the calendar is discussed as a medium of Protestantism and as an integral part of the media and cultural history of the rationalization of the self.

Max Weber’s Analysis of Capitalism

Capitalism is an absolutely central theme of Max Weber’s work as an economist and sociologist as well as of his political and social commitment. Weber’s investigations in ancient economy, the medieval city, and the political, economic, social, and religious systems of China and India are for a great part an inventory of differences versus the occidental development of modern market-oriented capitalism based on the exploitation of (formally) free labor. The transition from agrarian to industrial capitalism in contemporary Germany is observed by Weber with respect to the political and social problems of the young nation-state. The universal expansion of capitalism is analyzed with respect to its effects on humankind and conduct of life.