Traditional knowledge

Unit - I
 CIVILIZATION

•Ways of living
•Living Socially and Politically
•Better utilization of nature.
•Organizing societies into politically well-defined
groups working collectively for improved conditions of
life
•Matters of food, dress, communication, and so on
CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION

•Culture is the ‘higher levels of inner refinement’ of

a human being.

•Better ways of living socially and politically and

better utilization of natural resources around us
may be termed as civilization.
 CULTURAL HERITAGE

• Cultural development is a historical process

• Cultural heritage includes all those aspects or values of culture
transmitted to human beings by their ancestors from generation to
generation. They are cherished, protected and maintained by them
with unbroken continuity and they feel proud of it.

• The architectural creations, monuments, material artifacts, the

intellectual achievements, philosophy, treasures of knowledge,
scientific inventions and discoveries are also the part of heritage.
 TRADITIONAL

•Primitive

•Outdated

•Premodern

•Has nothing to do with science and technology

 COLONIZERS

• Systematically Plundered the Land

• Systematically Derogated the Culture

• Exterminated

• Undermined the Local Traditions

• Crafts of the Land

 COLONIZERS

•Control the Economic means of Production

•Social means of Organization

•Created Hegemonic categories

-Science Vs Magic
-Technology Vs Superstition
The United Nations University proposal defines
Traditional Knowledge Systems

Traditional knowledge or 'local knowledge' is a

record of human achievement in comprehending the
complexities of life and survival in often unfriendly
environments.

Traditional knowledge, which may be technical,

social, organizational, or cultural was obtained as
part of the great human experiment of survival and
development
 Laura Nader describes the purpose of
studying TKS:

•"The point is to open up people's minds to other ways

of looking and questioning, to change attitudes
about knowledge, to reframe the organization of
science -- to formulate a way of thinking globally
about traditions."
The global problem today

The present day globalizing economy with its

mass media glorification of the western
lifestyle is resulting in the homogenization of
human 'wants' and in unachievable
Expectations.
 The global problem today

•Westernized living is unachievable by billions of poor

humans, because the capital required simply does
not exist in the world

•Western civilization depends upon Inequality -- there

must be cheap labor 'somewhere else', and cheap
natural resources purchasable from somewhere,
without regard to the big picture of world society or
global ecology.
 The global problem today

•The western economic development model demands

'growth' to sustain valuations in the stock markets, and
growth cannot be indefinite.

•Even if the world's six billion persons were to achieve

western lifestyle, it would be unsustainable for the planet's
natural resources to sustain.
 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

•We have to study, preserve, and revive the Traditional

Knowledge Systems

•For the economic betterment of the world in a holistic

manner,

•These technologies are eco-friendly and

•Allow sustainable growth without harming the environment.

 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

•Traditional knowledge is the knowledge system possessed by

various communities across the globe.

•Such knowledge has been accumulated over the years and has
been used and passed down through several generations.

•It is usually with respect to the natural surroundings of the

community and includes agricultural knowledge such as manner
of cultivation, environmental knowledge and knowledge of
natural medicines.
 TYPES OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

• 1) Cultural Knowledge

• 2) Artistic knowledge

• 3) Biodiversity/ Natural Resources

• 4) Agricultural knowledge

• 5) Sacred knowledge
 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL
KNOWLEDGE
1) It is transmitted from generations to generations

2) In many cases, it is transmitted orally for generations from person

to person

3) It is being considered by the communities as gift of God and not

as a private property

4) ) Such knowledge typically distinguishes one community from

another
 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL
KNOWLEDGE

• 5) It is usually impossible to identify the original creator of the

information

• 6) It is learned through continuous observation, experience and

practice

• 7) It is inseparable part of communal and cultural life of its holders

and

• 8) It is usually associated with the biological resources.

 NEED FOR PROTECTING TRADITIONAL
KNOWLEDGE
•Lack of proper legal policy frame work for the protection of TK

•Exploitation of TK and indegenous resources.

•Patenting the medicinal plants and its derivatives

•Comercial interests violate indegenous Intelectual Property

Rights
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

THANK YOU