Ahuja, Dilip R
(2003)
Mendacity in Our Midst: Treatments in Ramanujan, Max Muller and in Ancient Indian Behaviour Codes.
Economic and Political Weekly, 38 (18).
pp. 1795-1799.
Abstract: |
Cultural observers like Ramanujan and Max Muller have implied that untruthfulness amongst Indians is
prevalent because of its approval by ancient behaviour codes. Ramanujan also attributed a lack of
universality in Indian thought to the same codes. While the ancient codes contain many assertions which
would be considered problematic today, lack of universality is not one of them as far as preference for
truthfulness is concerned. The only occasion wherein any of the ancient codes prefer lies to truth is when
someone's life is at stake. The quantitative prevalence of untruthfulness in different groups can only be
empirically estimated by carefully designed questionnaires or experimentally. To minimise getting answers
that the respondents will assume are expected of them, the first investigations should deal with instances of
petty untruthfulness, where the consequences are trivial. |
Item Type: |
Journal Paper
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Additional Information: |
The Copyright belongs to Economic and Political Weekly. |
Subjects: |
School of Social Sciences > Others |
Date Deposited: |
19 May 2006 |
Last Modified: |
25 Oct 2019 07:17 |
Official URL: |
http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?root=2003&l... |
Related URLs: |
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Funders: |
UNSPECIFIED |
Projects: |
UNSPECIFIED |
DOI: |
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URI: |
http://eprints.nias.res.in/id/eprint/57 |
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