The philosphy and ideas of Gandhiji are known as Gandhism, Gandhi path and Gandhi philosophy etc. 

Gandhiji’s life values : Gandhiji’s four ideals were: truth, non-violence, love and brotherhood. Through these ideals, he wanted to remove bad tendencies of humans. He wanted to develop love, freedom, humanity and religion in man. Thus, Gandhism is associated with life style or life philosophy. 

Gandhism : a pool of ideas : Being situational, Gandhiji’s ideas and ideal were universal. His ideas were wide, multipurpose and multidimensional. On his thoughts, the effect of both Indian and western ideas is seen. He was an individualist, idealist, socialist, liberal, nationalist and internationalist, but above all, he Was a humanist. 

Spiritual socialism : Gandhiji did not accept Marx’s materialistic and economic explanation of history and class struggle ‘because these were based on violence’. Instead, he believed in the idea of socialism. He stressed on intense internal development. He advocated class cooperation. His socialism was based on the principles of morality, Hinduism, rural humanism and democracy.

Sources of Gandhism : 

Four sources of Gandhiji’s ideas are as follows: 

• Effect of religious books : 

Gandhiji was highly influenced by the ancient religious books, such as: Vedas, Upanishads, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and Bhagwat Geeta. Besides, the teachings of jainism and Buddhism, Bible also influenced his ideas.

• Effect of philosophers : Gandhi’s ideas were highly influenced with the ideas of Ruskin, Henry David Thoroau, Leo Tolstoy and Socrates. 
• Effect of reform movements.
• Effect of socio-economic conditions. 

Spiritualization of politics : For Gandhiji, religion is not separate from politics, but both have the same purpose. The aim of both is to bring favourable change in social life and to establish justice in the society. 

Purity of Means and Ends : Gandhiji does not differentiate between means and achievements. According to him, both should be pure, best and pious. Means is like a seed and end is like a tree. 

Non-violence and Satyagrah in the form of Means : According to Gandhiji, Non violence means not to tease any one with heart, statement and act. Satyagarh means to stay firm to get the truth. It was first used in South Africa.

It is exercised through following methods :

• Non-cooperation : It means not to cooperate with the things that are false. For this, strike, social boycott, and meetings etc. are done.
• Hijrat : In this, to save one’ self respect, one goes to another place leaving his own place. 
• Civil disobedience : It means to break the unfair law.
• Fasting : Gandhiji coined it ‘spiritual medicine’.

Opposing of capitalism : Gandhiji has criticised capitalism. According to him, it has promoted the feelings of poverty, exploitation, unemployment and imperialism. He considered that the collection of capital is unethical. To remove socio-economic, disparities Gandhiji gave the following four suggestions:

• Asteya and Aparigrah : Asteya means no theft or not to touch anything without its owner’s permission. Gandhiji asked to stay away from physical, mental, economic and ideological theft. According to him, it will end economic difference.
• Trusteeship Theory : According to it, the capitalist can use his property according to requirement and for the rest of property he should become a trustee and entrust it in the welfare of the people. 
• Swadeshi : Gandhiji does not want to boycott all foreign goods, but accepts those which are essential to make Indian industries better.  
• Khadi’s economics : Gandhiji gave importance to Khadi or Charkha for rural reconstruction and self dependence.