Potentiality and Limitations of Philosophy of Fearism

Review by Ramesh KC

Translated by Desh Subba

Edited by Osinakachi Akuma Kalu

Desh Subba published a book “Philosophy of Fearism” the subtitle “life is conducted, directed and controlled by fear.” Depicts how he (subba) logically proves how ‘fear’ is at the center of human action(s). By that he means that humans and the universe is controlled by fear. Rightly from the ancient era, fear has been a matter of intellectual discuss. However, Subba systematized it, pointing in his notion “ism” the relevance of fear in man’s struggle

One of the theist existentialist thinkers Soren Kierkegaard studied about ‘fear and anxiety’ from the existential view point. He opined that between fear and anxiety, people seek existence. His important book is ‘Fear and Trembling’. Existentialists though discuss fear based on violence and its impact on the people. The Second World War posed fear on people is a kind of such an existential fear. Hence, Subba the propounder of Philosophy of Fearism categorized fear pointing out how human race suffered through it, and how it also helped in shaping human[ity]. For him also, fear helped in human evolution through agricultural age, industrial age, modern and post modern age. In the primitive age: people felt secured when they have sharp weapons but in recent time atomic weapons and other sophisticated arsenals surphises. It is not enough to speak of fear from the psychosis view point. From the biological perspective, it is also hereditary.

            In reality it is obvious that humans are fearful. Without fear, the world cannot move forward. The philosopher U. G. Krishnamurti has it that, “we are not close to each other as a result of love but fear.” Fear helps us to live communally and to search for a better way of life so as to live a fearless life. The idea of police, court and law came as a result of fear. Nevertheless, there are still insecurity challenges in human existence. The structure of the human body determines human character. Fear is one of those vital factors that structures man. If through gene editing we remove fear from man, the humanperson might be very dangerous.

            Since biologically, the brain is structured in such a way that it stimulates fear, psychologically fear could be minimized. Right from the primitive age, man lives in fear and exercises it because he is made in that form. Subba philosophically interpreted this universal truth through his notion of philosophy of fearism. Nevertheless, he does not have the fearless technique. The Hindu religion has taken fear, slumber, food and sex is a natural aspect of man which biologically is inherent in man. It is an important task to examine its ism (a la fear). That living things are intimately living together with it is another vital truth. In the book Philosophy of Fearism there are many logical arguments with epistemological tones proving this point. In recent time philosophers claim that, “human being cannot be changed culturally and psychologically. Any attempt to change human must be biologically through genetic engineering.     

            Thus, what is the limitation of Philosophy of Fearism? Interaction alone cannot solve the problems of man by bringing about a fearless society. To solve a biological problem, a biological means/methods ought to be applied.

            To be fearless and discussing philosophy of fearism is not the same thing. Invention doesn’t or is not the only way of making the world fear free. Though intellectual discussion, we see life and the world we live in a broader sense through different and new angles. Building on this backdrop, the author did a successful work because; he took various philosophical lenses to examine the reality of fearism in a 370 treatise.