The present work takes full cognisance of the recent developments in the Western ethical thought and its likely impact on the understanding of the traditional Indian ethics. That is the speciality of the present work. Moreover, Maitra's book, as the litle suggests, is a treatise-specially on Hindu Ethics. Ethical ideas found in Buddhism and Jainism have been occasionally dealt with. On the contrary, the present work takes equal note of the ethical ideas contained in Hindu, Buddha and Jaina traditions, while dealing with the subject in its special framework of presentation.
The distinctive developments in Western ethics have given rise to certain well-knit conceptual moulds, which, if properly applied to any system of ethics, can help us to understand the subject better. That is what the author has tried to do in this book. In course of doing this, certain reconstructions have also been made because material suited to these conceptual moulds are not always readily or directly available in the Indian thought.
The book was first published in 1998. Since then, certain reprints, of course, came out, but a revised edition was still awaited. And that has been done in the present edition. An Introduction has also been added towards the beginning. Certain additions and changes have also been made at places where they were felt necessary.
The book is a philosophical treatise on the Hindu, Bauddha and Jaina morals meant for the University students of Indian Ethics as well as for the general readers interested in the subject. Books on the subject are generally written in a historical perspective. On the contrary, the present work is philosophical and critical which takes full cognisance of the recent developments in Western ethical thought and its likely impact on the understanding of the traditional Indian ethics. Attempt has been made to understand the subject in the light of certain well-knit conceptual frames developed in the West in the field of ethics. In course of doing this, certain reconstructions have also been made, but it has always been kept in mind that the reconstructions do not become jejune to the natural spirit of Indian thought.
目次
preface v Abbreviations xi Chapter I: Indian Concept of Morality 1-14 1. Morality as Distinguished from Non-morality 1 2. Morality as Distinguished from Immorality 8 Chapter II: Sources of Moral Ideas and Beliefs 15-24 1. Scriptures 15 2. Path Trod by Great People 16 3. The Voice of Conscience 18 4. Reason 19 5. Conclusion 22 Chapter III: Object of moral Evaluation 25-30 1. The Problem 25 2. The Vedic View 26 3. The View of the Smrtis 26 4. The Upanisadic View 27 5. The Nyaya-Vaisesika Views 27 6. The Mimamsa View 28 7. The Bauddha and Jaina View 28 Chapter IV: Characteristics of Indian Moral System 31-40 1. Social and Individual Ethics 32 2. Spiritualistic Outlook 32 3. Metaphysical Basis 33 4. Authority as the primary Source 33 5. More perceptive than Speculative 34 6. Humanism 35 7. Moksa as the Ideal of Life 37 Chapter V: Basic Presuppositions of Morality 1. Freedom 41 2. The Law of Samara 42 3. Rebirth and Samara 43 4. Immortality of the soul 44 5. Avidya 44 Chapter VI: Development of Moral Belies and Ideas in Indian Thought 47-72 1. The Vedas 47 2. The Upanisads 49 3. The Smrtis 51 4. The Epics (specially the Mahabharata including the Bhagavadgita) 54 5. The System: 57 (a) The Nyaya-Vaisesika (b) The Samkhya Yoga (c) The Mimamsa (d) The Samkara Vedanta (e) The Ramanuja Vedanta (f) Buddhism and Jainism (g) The Carvaka 6. Modern Indian Thought 67 Chapter VII: Teleological and Deontological Theories in Indian Ethics 73-83 1. Teleology and Deontological: General Introduction 73 2. The General Character of Indian Ethics System 74 3. The Nyaya-Vaisesika 77 4. The Mimamsa 78 5. The Ramanuja Vedanta 80 6. The Samkhya and the Advaita Vedanta 81 7. The Non-orthodox System (Carvaka, Buddhism and Jainism) 82 Chapter VIII: The Content of Dharma: Virtues and Duties 85-99 1. The Content of Virtue and duty 85 2. Virtues and Duties in Indian Ethics 86 (a) The Vedas and the Upanisads (b) The Dharma- sutras and the Dharma- Sastras (Sadharana Dharmas) (c) The Nyaya-Vaisesika (Sadharana Dharmas) (d) The Yoga (e) The Ramanuja Vedanta 3. Varnasrama Dharmas 93 4. Buddhism and Jainism 95 5. A General Estimate 96 Chapter IX: Dharma and Moksa 101-117 1. The Concept of Moksa: 101 (a) The Vedas, as the Upanisads and the Bhagavadgita (b) The Nyaya-Vaisesika (c) The Samkhya (d) The Mimamsa (e) The Vedanta (Samkara and Ramanuja) (f) Buddhism (g) Jainism (h) General Remarks 2. The Role of Dharma in Moksa 106 (a) The Vedas and the Upanisads (b) The Bhagavadgita (c) The Nyaya-Vaisesika (d) The Samkhya (e) The Mimamsa (f) The Samkara Vedanta (g) The Ramanuja Vedanta (h) Buddhism (i) Jainism 3. General Estimate 116 Chapter X: Ethical Other Related Concepts 119-163 1. Rta 119 2. Dharma 121 3. Karma 125 4. Niskama Karma 128 5. Purusartha 133 6. Freedom and Responsibility 139 7. Raga and Dvesa 147 8. Klesa 149 9. Aicchika and Anaicchika Karmas 150 10. Sreyah and Preyah (The Good and the Pleasant) 151 Chapter XI: Justification of Morality in Indian Thought 155-163 1. Question of Justification 155 2. Two Senses of Justification 157 3. Justification in Indian Thought 159 Selected Bibliography 165 Index 169
