The Nature of Buddhist Ethics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. The Study of Buddhist Ethics

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 1-23

3. Aspects of Sīla

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 25-56

4. Ethics and Psychology

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 57-82

5. The Transcendency Thesis

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 83-105

6. Ethics and Soteriology

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 107-128

7. Ethics in the Mahāyāna

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 129-164

8. Buddhism and Utilitarianism

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 165-191

9. Buddhism and Aristotle

   • Damien Keown

   Pages 193-227

10. Conclusion

    • Damien Keown

    Pages 229-232

11. Back Matter

    Pages 233-269

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In this book the author considers data from both early and later schools of Buddhism in an attempt to provide an overall characterization of the structure of Buddhist ethics. The importance of ethics in the Buddha's teachings is widely acknowledged, but the pursuit of ethical ideals has up to now been widely held to be secondary to the attainment of knowledge. Drawing on the Aristotelian tradition of ethics the author argues against this intellectualization of Buddhism and in favour of a new understanding of the tradition in terms of which ethics plays an absolutely central role. In the course of this reassessment many basic concepts such as karma, nirvana, and the Eightfold Path, are reviewed and presented in a fresh light. The book will be of interest to readers with a background in either Buddhist studies or comparative religious ethics.

• Aristotle
• Buddhism
• Buddhist studies
• ethics
• Utilitarianism

• Goldsmiths’ College, University of London, UK

  Damien Keown

DAMIEN KEOWN is Reader in Buddhism in the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is founding co-editor of the Journal of Buddhist Ethics and has authored and edited several books on Buddhist Ethics including Buddhism and Bioethics, Buddhism and Abortion, and Buddhism and Human Rights (co-editor).

Policies and ethics