Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an overview of the important streams of thinking related to nature. It focuses on body and woman questions some of the basic assumptions that underlie dualisms that characterize the domain of values. The book shows how the question of feminism in the context of nature needs to be re-situated in contemporary discussions by drawing on Indian philosophical views on nature. It presents the Roman Catholic Church's positions on homosexuality by placing it within a broader framework of fundamental theological positions about sexuality. The book explores how feminist narratives of science can inform emerging postcolonial narratives. It also focuses on the nature of the mind or the rational and its relationship to science. The belief that mathematics is essential to the sciences has long been held by influential scientists.