Buddhist Ethics
Buddhism Assessment
Where do I find an article on Buddhism?
This assessment is very well scaffolded and you have been given one article to start you off. Topics you might want to explore for your second article include:
Books about Buddhism can be found in the non-fiction collection at NF 294. You can find background information about ethics in the school library at:
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The books in the school library are for background reading (to find out the issues). Your assignment asks you to find a media article. Try looking up the online newspapers in your local library or have a look through current affairs and sociology of religion journals (especially, Journal of Buddhist Ethics [http://blogs.dickinson.edu/buddhistethics/category/volume-23-2016/]. The School library stocks Time, National Geographic, New Internationalist, and New Philosopher. You can assess these academic journals through your State Library log-in:
- International Journal of Religion and Society
- Journal for the Academic Study of Religion
- Journal of Religion and Health
- Journal of Religion and Society
- Religion and Society
- Sociology of Religion
Before you begin, James Hughs' Buddhist bioethics has an easily-readable overview of Buddhist attitudes to different ethical dilemma. It is an excellent article to start you thinking
I will continue adding articles about specific topics below. Let me know if the topic you're looking for is not there. Don't all pick the same article (or topic) or your marker will be VERY bored!
Abortion
Michael G. Barnhart's Buddhism and the Morality of Abortion (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 5 1998: 276-297) investigates whether abortion can be considered consistent with Buddhist precepts, contrasting Theravada and Mahayana traditions.
Phillip A. Lecso's A Buddhist View of Abortion (Journal of Religion and Health September 1987, Volume 26, Issue 3, pp 214-218) disentagles the tension between the buddhist belief that consciousness begins at conception and the need for medical abortions. You can access this article through your State library log-in.
J Hughs' Buddhism and Abortion: A Western approach (in Buddhism and Abortion, ed. Damien Keown) situates the ethics of abortion within a Western Buddhist tradition.
Barwell Smith's Buddhism and Abortion in Contemporary Japan (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 1988 15:1) is a sociological study which investigates some of the issues surrounding abortion for Japanese Buddhists. You can access it through JSTOR at your local or state library.
Malee Lerdmaleewong's Abortion in Thailand: a Feminist Perspective offers a feminist interpretation of abortion in a Buddhist country.
Phillip A. Lecso's A Buddhist View of Abortion (Journal of Religion and Health September 1987, Volume 26, Issue 3, pp 214-218) disentagles the tension between the buddhist belief that consciousness begins at conception and the need for medical abortions. You can access this article through your State library log-in.
J Hughs' Buddhism and Abortion: A Western approach (in Buddhism and Abortion, ed. Damien Keown) situates the ethics of abortion within a Western Buddhist tradition.
Barwell Smith's Buddhism and Abortion in Contemporary Japan (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 1988 15:1) is a sociological study which investigates some of the issues surrounding abortion for Japanese Buddhists. You can access it through JSTOR at your local or state library.
Malee Lerdmaleewong's Abortion in Thailand: a Feminist Perspective offers a feminist interpretation of abortion in a Buddhist country.
Animal Rights and Vegetarianism
Norm Phelps' The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights outlines key elements of Buddhist relationship with the earth and it's inhabitants. Hower, you need to check with your teacher before using a book chapter in your media file.
Phillip a Lesco's Do no harm: A Buddhist View on animal Use in Research (Journal of Religion and Health December 1988, Volume 27, Issue 4, pp 307-312) investigates the clash between Buddhist need to do no harm to animals and the Buddhist need to relieve human suffering. It can be accessed through the State library.
Phillip a Lesco's Do no harm: A Buddhist View on animal Use in Research (Journal of Religion and Health December 1988, Volume 27, Issue 4, pp 307-312) investigates the clash between Buddhist need to do no harm to animals and the Buddhist need to relieve human suffering. It can be accessed through the State library.
Capital Punishment
Damien P Horigan's Of Compassion and Capital Punishment: A Buddhist Perspective on the Death Penalty (The American Journal of Jurisprudence Volume 41(1996) p.271-288) cites Buddhist teachings and histories to call on Asian Buddists to stand against capital punishment. The copy here is annoying to read, so cut and paste it into a word processor and change the font.
Leanne Fiftal Alarid and Hsiao-Ming Wang's Mercy and Punishment: Buddhism and the Death Penalty (Social Justice Vol. 28, No. 1 (83), Welfare & Punishment In the Bush Era (Spring 2001), pp. 231-247) discusses Buddhist ethics regarding capital punishment in a global context. You can access this article through your State library log-in.
Leanne Fiftal Alarid and Hsiao-Ming Wang's Mercy and Punishment: Buddhism and the Death Penalty (Social Justice Vol. 28, No. 1 (83), Welfare & Punishment In the Bush Era (Spring 2001), pp. 231-247) discusses Buddhist ethics regarding capital punishment in a global context. You can access this article through your State library log-in.
Consumerism
Stefano Pace's Does religion affect the Materialism of Consumers? An Empirical Investigation fo Buddist Ethics and the Resistance of Self (Journal of Business Ethics January 2013, Volume 112, Issue 1, pp 25-46) investigates whether Buddhist understandings of the non-esistance of the self and the four immeasurables can co-exist with consumerism. It can be accessed through the State library.
Environmental Ethics
Ian Harris' Getting to Grips with Buddhist Environmentalism (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 2 1995 173-190) identifies four different models of environmentalism and examines the possible contribution of Buddhism to each model
Euthanasia and Mercy Killing
Damien Keown's Attitudes to Euthanasia in the Vinaya and Commentary (Journal of Buddhist Ethics 6 (1999):260-270) outlines many different aspects of Buddhist theology which impact on the rule that a Buddhist monk cannot take at life.
Damien Keown's On Compassionate Killing and the Abhidhamma’s “Psychological Ethics” (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 23, 2016) investigates the tension between Buddhist ethical concerns about the sanctity of life and the need for universal compassion, arguing that killing can be motivated by compassion
R W Perrett's Buddhism, Euthanasia and the Sanctity of Life (Journal of Medical Ethics 1996;22:309-313) argues that Buddhist ethics regarding euthanasia should ot be interpreted from a Western perspective. This article argues the opposite to David Keown, so have a read of "On Compassionate Killing" (above) to understand where Perrest is coming from.
Phillip A. Lecso's Euthanasia: a Buddhist Perspective (Journal of Religion and Health Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring, 1986), pp. 51-57) uses key Buddhist concepts to argue that euthanasia is against Buddhist ethics. You can access this article through the State library.
Robert E Florida's Buddhist approaches to euthanasia (Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses March 1993 22: 35-47) discusses the different streams of medical ethical practices in Japan. It is one of the simpler articles to read, but may be difficult to get hold of - your local or state library might be abl;e to get hold of the article from one of these libraries.
Damien Keown's On Compassionate Killing and the Abhidhamma’s “Psychological Ethics” (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 23, 2016) investigates the tension between Buddhist ethical concerns about the sanctity of life and the need for universal compassion, arguing that killing can be motivated by compassion
R W Perrett's Buddhism, Euthanasia and the Sanctity of Life (Journal of Medical Ethics 1996;22:309-313) argues that Buddhist ethics regarding euthanasia should ot be interpreted from a Western perspective. This article argues the opposite to David Keown, so have a read of "On Compassionate Killing" (above) to understand where Perrest is coming from.
Phillip A. Lecso's Euthanasia: a Buddhist Perspective (Journal of Religion and Health Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring, 1986), pp. 51-57) uses key Buddhist concepts to argue that euthanasia is against Buddhist ethics. You can access this article through the State library.
Robert E Florida's Buddhist approaches to euthanasia (Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses March 1993 22: 35-47) discusses the different streams of medical ethical practices in Japan. It is one of the simpler articles to read, but may be difficult to get hold of - your local or state library might be abl;e to get hold of the article from one of these libraries.
Genetic Engineering
Michael G Barnhardt's Nature, Nurture and No-self: Bio-engineering and Buddhist Values (Journal of Buddhist Ethics 7 (2000):126-144)assesses the circumstances in which genetic engineering of a human may be permissible in Buddhist ethics.
GLBTI Issues
Ann Gleig's Queering Buddhism or Buddhist De-queering?: Reflecting on Differences Amongst Western LGBTQI Buddhists and the Limits of Liberal Convert Buddhism (Theology and Sexuality Vol. 8 Issue 3 2012) explores the way in which Buddhist concepts are used by Western practitioners to define GLTBI identities. You can access this journal through the State library.
Peter A Jackson's Male Homosexuality and Trangenderism in the Thai Buddhist Tradition ( in Queer Dhama: voices of Gay Buddhists, ed. Winston Leyland) explores examples that may be interpreted as gay or transgender stories from Buddhist texts, compares this to current understanding of gender and identity, and applies this to current (homo)sexual politics in Thailand.
"All Beings Are Equally Embraced By Amida Buddha": Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and Same-Sex Marriage in the United StatesWilson, Jeff. "All Beings are equally embraced by amida Buddha": Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and Same-sex Marriage in the United States (Journal of Global Buddhism 13 (2012): 31-59) uses historical and theological evidence to explain why Buddhist clerics were among the first people in the USA to conduct gay marriages..
Peter A Jackson's Male Homosexuality and Trangenderism in the Thai Buddhist Tradition ( in Queer Dhama: voices of Gay Buddhists, ed. Winston Leyland) explores examples that may be interpreted as gay or transgender stories from Buddhist texts, compares this to current understanding of gender and identity, and applies this to current (homo)sexual politics in Thailand.
"All Beings Are Equally Embraced By Amida Buddha": Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and Same-Sex Marriage in the United StatesWilson, Jeff. "All Beings are equally embraced by amida Buddha": Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and Same-sex Marriage in the United States (Journal of Global Buddhism 13 (2012): 31-59) uses historical and theological evidence to explain why Buddhist clerics were among the first people in the USA to conduct gay marriages..
Human Rights and Social Justice
Damien Keown's Are there Human Rights in Buddhism? (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 2: 1995 3-27) questions whether Buddhism's emphasis on concepts such as compassion is compatible with the Western concept of human rights.
Sungtaek Cho's Selflessness: Toward a Buddhist Vision of Social Justice (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 7: 2000 76-85) discovers a path between selfless social responsibility and the quest for individual enlightenment (which can be seen as selfish).
Patricia Sherwood's Buddhist Contribution to Social Welfare in Australia (Journal of Buddhist Ethics 8 (2001): 61- 74) identifies the way Buddhists have contributed to Australian society in the areas of education, health, social justice, animal rights, prison and drug rehabilitation etc.
Sungtaek Cho's Selflessness: Toward a Buddhist Vision of Social Justice (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 7: 2000 76-85) discovers a path between selfless social responsibility and the quest for individual enlightenment (which can be seen as selfish).
Patricia Sherwood's Buddhist Contribution to Social Welfare in Australia (Journal of Buddhist Ethics 8 (2001): 61- 74) identifies the way Buddhists have contributed to Australian society in the areas of education, health, social justice, animal rights, prison and drug rehabilitation etc.
Pacificism, War and Conflict
Tessa Bartholomeusz' In Defense of Dharma: Just-War Ideology in Buddhist Sri Lanka (Journal of Buddhist Ethics 6 (1999):1-16) discusses the tension between the Buddhidt ideal of pacificsm and the concept of a "Just war".
Prisons and Rehabilitiation
David R Loy's How to Reform a Serial Killer: the Buddhist approach to Restorative Justice (Journal of Buddhist Ethics 7 (2000):146-168) explores links between Buddhist concepts of reform and the Western ideal of Restorative Justice, using a case study of the Tibetan prison system.
Sexuality
John Stevens' Lust for Englightenment: Buddhism and Sex looks at Buddhist Sexuality from many viewpoints. It is available at googlebooks. It is great for background reading, but ask your teacher before using a book chapter in your media file.
Paul David Numrich's The Problem with Sex according to Buddhism (Dialog Volume 48, Issue 1, pages 62–73, Spring 2009) examines laws regarding monastic and lay Buddhist behaviour. You can access this article through the State Library.
Dharmachari Jaanavira's Homosexuality in the Japanese Buddhist Tradition (Western Buddhist Review Vol 3) discusses the way that Buddhist and Shinto views of sexuality interacted to create a specifically Japanese tradition of (male) homosexuality, including an entire lierary genre.
Significantly, the Dalai Lama, leader of Tibetan buddhism, has spoken out in support of gay marriage. There are many newspaper articles about this.
Paul David Numrich's The Problem with Sex according to Buddhism (Dialog Volume 48, Issue 1, pages 62–73, Spring 2009) examines laws regarding monastic and lay Buddhist behaviour. You can access this article through the State Library.
Dharmachari Jaanavira's Homosexuality in the Japanese Buddhist Tradition (Western Buddhist Review Vol 3) discusses the way that Buddhist and Shinto views of sexuality interacted to create a specifically Japanese tradition of (male) homosexuality, including an entire lierary genre.
Significantly, the Dalai Lama, leader of Tibetan buddhism, has spoken out in support of gay marriage. There are many newspaper articles about this.
Suicide
Damien Keown's Buddhism and Suicide: The Case of Channa (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 3 1996:8-31) discusses whether suicide is permitted on the path to enlightenment, beginning with an overview of historical perspectives before examining core texts.
Martin Kovan's Thresholds of Transcendence: Buddhist Selfimmolation and Mahāyānist Absolute Altruism Part One and Part Two (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 21, 2014) discuss the meaning and ethics of political suicides (usually by burning oneself to death as a protest) in Buddhist texts and in contemporary political contexts. To make sense of his arguments, make sure you understand his philosophical standpoint of subjectivism.
Martin Kovan's Thresholds of Transcendence: Buddhist Selfimmolation and Mahāyānist Absolute Altruism Part One and Part Two (Journal of Buddhist Ethics Volume 21, 2014) discuss the meaning and ethics of political suicides (usually by burning oneself to death as a protest) in Buddhist texts and in contemporary political contexts. To make sense of his arguments, make sure you understand his philosophical standpoint of subjectivism.
Worth a read if you're really interested in this topic (but not useful for this exact task)
Buddhist Ethics in a Western Context [http://blogs.dickinson.edu/buddhistethics/files/2010/04/whitehil.pdf] argues that Buddist ethics can exist apart from the practice of Buddhism.