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Semester 3: Ethics (Indian and Western)
The Ethics of Bhagavadgītā: Niṣkāma Karma-yoga, Sthitiprajña, Lokasaṃgraha Puruṣārthās and their inter-relations
The Ethics of Bhagavad-gītā: Niṣkāma Karma-yoga, Sthitiprajña, Lokasaṅgraha Puruṣārthas and their inter-relations
Niṣkāma Karma-yoga
Niṣkāma Karma-yoga emphasizes action without attachment to the results. It advocates selfless service and encourages individuals to perform their duties while maintaining equanimity towards success and failure. This ethical framework promotes a sense of duty, social responsibility, and personal growth.
Sthitiprajña
Sthitiprajña refers to the state of steady wisdom, characterized by mental stability and the ability to remain unaffected by dualities such as pleasure and pain. It represents an ideal ethical state where one acts with tranquility and inner strength, serving as a model for ethical behavior in the face of life's challenges.
Lokasaṅgraha
Lokasaṅgraha pertains to the welfare of the world or community. It is the idea that individuals should act for the benefit of society, emphasizing collective responsibility. This principle encourages actions that promote harmony, justice, and the greater good, linking personal ethics with societal well-being.
Puruṣārthas
Puruṣārthas are the four goals of a human life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kāma (pleasure), and Mokṣa (liberation). Understanding these aims is crucial for ethical decision-making. The Bhagavad-gītā navigates the balance between these goals, guiding individuals towards a holistic ethical stance that combines personal aspirations with moral duty.
Inter-relations of Concepts
The interrelation of Niṣkāma Karma-yoga, Sthitiprajña, Lokasaṅgraha, and Puruṣārthas creates a comprehensive ethical framework. Niṣkāma Karma-yoga informs personal actions with selflessness, while Sthitiprajña enables individuals to remain steadfast amidst challenges. Lokasaṅgraha ties personal ethics to the community well-being, and Puruṣārthas offers a structured approach to achieve a balanced life that incorporates personal and social responsibilities.
Meaning of Dharma, Classification of Dharma: Sāmānya dharma, Viśeṣa dharma, Sādhāraṇa dharma, Concept of Ṛṇa and Ṛta
Meaning of Dharma and its Classification
Meaning of Dharma
Dharma in Indian philosophy refers to the moral order of the universe and an individual's duty. It encompasses ethical conduct, law, righteousness, and appropriate behavior in society.
Classification of Dharma
Dharma can be classified into four main categories:
Sāmānya Dharma
This refers to universal principles of righteousness that apply to all individuals regardless of their specific role or context. It includes basic ethical standards like truthfulness and non-violence.
Viśeṣa Dharma
This pertains to specific duties and responsibilities associated with an individual's role in society, which can vary based on factors such as age, occupation, and social status.
Sādhāraṇa Dharma
This covers collective duties or obligations that are common among a group or community, promoting social harmony and cohesion.
Concept of Ṛta and Sat
In this context, Ṛta refers to the cosmic order and truth that underlie the universe, while Sat denotes existence and reality. Together, they highlight the importance of aligning individual actions with universal principles of truth and order.
The general features of Jaina and Bauddha Ethics.
General Features of Jaina and Bauddha Ethics
Fundamental Principles of Jaina Ethics
Jaina ethics is based on the principles of non-violence (ahimsa), non-possessiveness (aparigraha), and truthfulness (asteya). It emphasizes the sanctity of all forms of life and promotes the idea of compassion towards all beings.
Fundamental Principles of Bauddha Ethics
Bauddha ethics revolves around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The focus is on understanding suffering and seeking enlightenment through ethical living, mental discipline, and wisdom.
Concept of Ahimsa in Jaina and Bauddha Ethics
Ahimsa is central to Jaina ethics, promoting non-violence towards all living beings. In Bauddha ethics, while non-violence is important, the emphasis is more on overcoming suffering and ignorance through right action and mindfulness.
Role of Karma in Jaina and Bauddha Ethics
Jaina ethics places a strong emphasis on karma, asserting that every action has consequences that affect one's future lives. In Bauddha ethics, karma is also significant, but it is tied more to the cycle of rebirth and the cessation of suffering.
Path to Liberation in Jaina and Bauddha Ethics
In Jaina philosophy, the path to liberation (moksha) involves strict adherence to ethical principles, meditation, and ascetic practices. In contrast, Bauddha ethics advocates for the attainment of Nirvana through the understanding of the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path.
Inclusivity of Jaina and Bauddha Ethics
Jaina ethics is often seen as more exclusive, focusing on the ascetic path and strict adherence to its principles. Bauddha ethics, however, aims at a more inclusive approach to ethical living, applicable to a broader audience regardless of ascetic practices.
The ethics of Gandhi: Eleven vows, Sarvodaya, Concept of seven sins, Doctrine of Trusteeship
The Ethics of Gandhi
Eleven Vows
Gandhi's Eleven Vows serve as ethical guidelines for personal conduct. They include truth, non-violence, non-stealing, celibacy, non-possession, and others. Each vow is a commitment to a moral life and societal well-being, promoting inner peace and harmony.
Sarvodaya
The concept of Sarvodaya, meaning the welfare of all, is central to Gandhi's philosophy. It emphasizes social justice and equality. Sarvodaya advocates for the upliftment of the marginalized and a society where everyone has access to resources and opportunities.
Seven Sins
Gandhi identified seven social sins that detract from ethical living. These include wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, and knowledge without character. His criticism points to the necessity of a balanced approach to personal growth and societal impact.
Doctrine of Trusteeship
Gandhi's Doctrine of Trusteeship asserts that individuals should hold wealth and resources as trustees for society. This principle challenges the notion of private ownership and encourages responsible stewardship, aiming to reduce inequality and promote a fair economic system.
Nature and scope of Ethics, Theories of ethics: Teleological and Deontological. Postulates of morality, problem of free will and determinism
Ethics (Indian and Western)
Nature of Ethics
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles, values, and rules that govern human behavior. It seeks to answer questions about what is right and wrong, good and bad, and explores the justification of moral judgments.
Scope of Ethics
The scope of ethics encompasses various fields such as business ethics, medical ethics, environmental ethics, and personal ethics. It examines issues affecting society and individuals, providing frameworks for evaluating actions and their consequences.
Theories of Ethics
Postulates of Morality
Postulates of morality serve as foundational principles guiding ethical behavior. These include the respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice, which inform moral decisions and actions in various contexts.
Free Will and Determinism
Moral and non-moral actions, Object of moral judgement-Motive and intention, ends and means. Value as standard of morality.
Moral and Non-Moral Actions, Object of Moral Judgment, Motive and Intention, Ends and Means, Value as Standard of Morality
Moral Actions
Moral actions are those actions that conform to the accepted norms of right conduct within a society. They are guided by ethical considerations and are associated with values such as honesty, integrity, and justice.
Non-Moral Actions
Non-moral actions are those actions that do not involve moral considerations. They are often based on personal preferences or situational contexts that do not invoke ethical scrutiny.
Object of Moral Judgment
The object of moral judgment refers to the subject or matter being evaluated from a moral standpoint. This can include actions, intentions, or behaviors that are subject to ethical analysis.
Motive and Intention
Motive refers to the reason behind an action, while intention relates to the purpose or goal one aims to achieve through the action. Both are crucial for assessing morality as they provide context to actions.
Ends and Means
The distinction between ends and means is significant in ethical discussions. It examines whether the ends justify the means used to achieve them. This raises questions about the moral implications of sacrificing one value for another.
Value as Standard of Morality
Values serve as benchmarks for determining moral rightness or wrongness. These values can be derived from cultural, religious, or philosophical beliefs and fundamentally shape the moral landscape of a society.
Standards of morality: Hedonism- Ethical and Psychological, Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill. Intuitionism, Butler’s Theory of conscience as the ultimate standard of moral judgement.
Standards of morality: Hedonism, Utilitarianism, and Intuitionism
Hedonism
Hedonism is the ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good. Ethical hedonism advocates that actions are right if they promote pleasure and wrong if they produce pain. Psychological hedonism posits that humans are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is an ethical framework that assesses the morality of actions based on their outcomes, promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Jeremy Bentham, the founder of utilitarianism, emphasized quantifiable pleasures, while John Stuart Mill later introduced a qualitative aspect, differentiating higher and lower pleasures.
Intuitionism
Intuitionism is an ethical theory suggesting that moral truths are known through intuition. It holds that humans have an inherent ability to discern right from wrong without external proof. This contrasts with consequentialist theories, asserting the existence of objective moral facts.
Butler's Theory of Conscience
Joseph Butler argued that conscience serves as the ultimate standard of moral judgment. He believed that humans possess an innate sense of right and wrong, which guides ethical decision-making. Butler's perspective emphasizes the importance of internal moral guidance rather than external rule-following.
Kant’s ethical theory: Good will, Categorical Imperative, Duty for duty’s sake Crime and theories of punishment, Issue of Capital punishment.
Kant's Ethical Theory
Good Will
Good will is the only intrinsic good according to Kant. It is the motivation behind actions that must be guided by reason and a sense of duty. Actions are morally worthy when they stem from good will, rather than from inclination or desire.
Categorical Imperative
The categorical imperative is the central philosophical concept in the moral philosophy of Kant. It represents a universal moral law that applies to all rational beings, without exception. It has several formulations, including: 1. The formula of universality: Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. 2. The formula of humanity: Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means.
Duty for Duty's Sake
Kant emphasizes the importance of duty in moral actions. Moral actions must be taken out of respect for the moral law, not for the consequences they produce. Duty for duty's sake is the essence of moral action, and it requires adherence to the categorical imperative.
Crime and Theories of Punishment
Kant's legal philosophy views punishment as a form of moral retribution. He believes that punishment should be proportional to the crime committed. This perspective aligns with his belief in justice and the moral duty to uphold the law.
Issue of Capital Punishment
Kant supports the idea of capital punishment under specific circumstances, arguing that it is a justified response to certain crimes, particularly those that violate the categorical imperative. He sees it as a means of ensuring justice and moral order, although this view has been widely debated and criticized in contemporary discussions.
