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Moral philosophy, pragmatism, and the larger cause: why "war" metaphors are needed during pandemics.
Bhaumik, Soumyadeep; Dash, Sambit; Kakkar, Kamna.
  • Bhaumik S; The George Institute for Global Health, Elegance Tower, Plot No. 8, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi 110 025 INDIA.
  • Dash S; Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Karnataka, INDIA.
  • Kakkar K; Department of Anaesthesia, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, INDIA.
Indian J Med Ethics ; V(3): 219-221, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1034316
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which originated in China, is now a full-blown pandemic which has thrown governments and societies off-track in an unprecedented manner. War metaphors have been used widely to describe the scenario, but many critics decry them as harmful narratives. In this piece, we discuss the utility of the war metaphor to build solidarity and fraternity, which will be essential to get through the crisis. We also explain how concerns regarding increased authoritarianism and state excesses due to the use of these narratives are misplaced. We then tease out the colonial era concept of war that guides the arguments against the use of war metaphors in pandemics. We argue that in the post-modern world and in South Asian and African philosophies, wars are seen through the prism of the larger cause of dharma or ubuntu and that individual losses or gains in these contexts are part of a larger cause. The use of war metaphors reflects the need to get together for a societal cause. These metaphors are largely understood across societies while other alternatives are exclusionary, poetic and tangential in nature.

Keywords Covid-19, pandemics, war metaphors, communication, philosophy, SARS-CoV-2

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Behavior / Communication / Metaphor / Pandemics / COVID-19 / Morals Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa / Asia Language: English Journal: Indian J Med Ethics Journal subject: Ethics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Behavior / Communication / Metaphor / Pandemics / COVID-19 / Morals Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa / Asia Language: English Journal: Indian J Med Ethics Journal subject: Ethics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article