Lessons from 'The Hawk and the Dove': Reflections on the Mahābhārata's Animal Parables and Ethical Predicaments (original) (raw)
Related papers
Animal Ethics in the Mahābhārata
Journal paper, 2019
According to Darwinism, every creature on the earth survives at the cost of others and thus the conflict in existence is inevitable. Theory of evolution believes that human being by using its intellect have established domination over other creatures. Indian Dharmic tradition however gives us a cognitive tool to think about life from alternative perspectives through the maxims like "Vasudhaiva Kutṵmbakam', (the world is one family), which tells us that all the creatures of the earth should be treated with due consideration. These two ideas i.e. inevitability of conflict and desire to coexist in peace, apparently contradict each others. The Mahābhārata seems to be trying to find a synthesis between these two. Though the inevitability of violence in existence is accepted, it seems to be cautioning us in a different way to put a check on it. The disrespectful treatment of the lives of non-human creatures brings its retribution. Though the wars and hunting are perceived as manly, the epic gives a message that it is compassion that makes a better human being.
Hindu Ethics and Nonhuman Animals_ Animals_ Tradition - Philosophy - Religion - All-Creatures.pdf
Swadharam Journal, 2009
Westerners have long admired certain qualities of the Eastern spirituality. This article examines the Hindu religious tradition through myths and scripture, moral teachings and contemporary comment, to explore the Hindu vision of how human beings fit into the larger universe, and how we ought to interact with other creatures. This article is not critical in nature, but reveals how much we might learn from the spiritual and moral teachings of the Hindu tradition concerning our proper place in nature. I do not turn away my dog; I turn away you. (Mahabharata) Cite as: “Hindu Ethics and Nonhuman Animals.” Swadharam Journal 3 (April 2009): 32-45
Karman and Compassion: Animals in the Jain Universal History
As a religious tradition which largely defines itself by its propagation of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and respect for all living beings, Jainism gives particular attention to the wellbeing of animals, for example, in the prescription of a strict (lacto-)vegetarian diet, in advocating animal rights and the sponsorship of animal shelters. Against this background, this article examines the presence of animals and other non-human beings in Jaina mythology, more precisely the so-called Jaina Universal History. This Universal History in practice consists of the biographies (caritra or purāṇa) of 63 heroes (śalākā-or mahā-puruṣas), many of whom have parallels in broader South Asian epic, purāṇic or narrative traditions. This article introduces the various ways animals are dealt with in these Jaina purāṇic narratives, and will focus in particular on their symbolic value as representatives of human heroes.
Hindu Ethics and Nonhuman Animals
Swadharam Journal, 2009
“Hindu Ethics and Nonhuman Animals.” Swadharam Journal 3 (April 2009): 32-45. No longer in print; can be accessed at http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/an-tpr-Hindu-ethics.html
Religious Studies, 2022
Traditionally, the problem of evil, in its various formulations, has been one of the strongest objections against perfect being theism. In the voluminous literature on this problem, the motif of evil has usually been discussed with respect to human flourishing. In recent decades more focused attention has been paid to animal suffering and the philosophical problems that such suffering poses for perfect being theists. However, this growing body of literature, in Anglo-American philosophical milieus, is largely aimed at sketching a specifically Christian or Christianity-inflected theodicy that would reconcile animal suffering with the existence of an omni-God. In contrast, there are few, if any, systematic attempts to put forth a Hindu theodicy that aims to offer morally justifiable reasons that God has for allowing animal suffering. In this article, we address this scholarly lacuna by illustrating how a Hindu perfect being theist might respond to the problem of animal suffering.
Paradox & Practice: Morally Relevant Distinctions in the Buddhist Characterisation of Animals
Buddhist cosmology proposes a hierarchical taxonomy of sentient beings cycling endlessly through samsaric realms propelled by their karma. Within this hierarchy, the status and capacities of animals are characterised as subordinate to those of human beings; rebirth as an animal is considered unfortunate while rebirth as a human is considered particularly fortunate. The Buddhist hierarchy of sentient beings is thus superficially similar to Aristotle's scala naturae in which animals also occupy a lowly position. Aristotle's conclusions were given theological approval by Thomas Aquinas whose Summa Theologica adopts and modifies Aristotle's scala naturae in subordinating the interest of animals to those of humans. However, while Buddhism subordinates the status of animals to that of humans, it never found a morally relevant distinction within this framework justifying the exploitation of animals to satisfy human wants and needs. This article explores the apparent "subordination-without-exploitation" paradox inherent in the Buddhist characterisation of animals.