Social implications of Buddhist ethics

Sławomir Nowosad

Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, Wydział Teologii
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6287-7938

Abstract

Though primarily focused on the individual’s enlightenment and happiness, Buddhist ethical thought does involve social areas of human life. This paper endeavours to grasp and propound ethical aspects of man’s social existence and relations which are of particular interest not only in recent Buddhist literature. It first outlines man as a social being including the modern and universal idea of human rights, also in their international dimension. What follows are some significant ethical aspects of marriage and family life. Then the paper presents main mutual relations between the king and his subjects with a reference to two major models of the Buddhist political rule as found in the historical examples of emperor Aśoka and the mythical Shambalan kingdom. Finally, the attention is concentrated on the issues of peace and war as perceived in light of the basic Buddhist principle of ahimsa but also ever more influenced by modern pluralistic societies and cultural transformations.

Keywords:

Buddhism, Buddhist ethics, enlightenment, social life, human rights, marriage and the family, peace and war