Duquesne university, 600 forbes avenue, pittsburgh, pa 15282 outline. Suicide in hindu history the most wellknown historical practice of suicide associated with hinduism is that of suttee sanskrit sati, the selfimmolation burning to death of a widow on her. Scholars of islamic studies have collaborated to produce this volume which both integrates muslim thinking into the field of applied ethics and introduces readers to an aspect of the religion long overlooked. Traditional hindu views and the contemporary debate. Another relevant term, ashrama, refers to four stages of life. Modern western approaches to india often have focused on metaphysics at the expense of ethics, leading many to see hinduism as only concerned with the esoteric and the otherworldly. The following chapters on purity, abortion, and euthanasia offer case study explorations into specific topics of dharma or hindu ethicscase studies which are selected and presented so as to invite comparisons with modern western thought to develop in the critical reflection of the reader, such comparisons. Coward the classical hindu view on abortion and the moral status of the unborn julius j. Ethics and morality are not the only underlying principles affecting the euthanasia, suicide and abortion debate. Rethinking gender justice for indian women by madhu kishwar. Purity, abortion, and euthanasia, edited by harold g. Good karma leads to a good rebirth or release, and bad karma to a bad rebirth. Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to buddhist. Hindu scholars and womens rights advocates have supported bans on sexselective abortion.
I begin this chapter with an overview of sources, methods, and types of analysis in hindu ethics. He is the author of the keynote article in the hindu world routledge 2004, on hinduism and hinduisms. A consideration of three of the most contentious ethical issues of our time abortion, war and euthanasia from the muslim perspective. If the mothers life is at risk hinduism permits abortion. For a thorough discussion of this issue as it applies to the hindu texts, see julius j. In rare instances, a publisher has elected to have a zero moving wall, so their current issues are available. Buddhist views of suicide and euthanasia, philosophy east and west 1990 40. Citation prepared by the library and information services group of the kennedy institute of ethics, georgetown university for the ethxweb database. Buddhism and the morality of abortion, journal of buddhist ethics, vol. Abortion and euthanasia christian medical fellowship. Hindu views on euthanasia, suicide and abortion in the. The following resources are intended to provide information that will help in making thoughtful, wellinformed decisions about both the morality and the legality of abortion. Hindu ethics purity abortion and euthanasia pdf best of all, they are entirely free to find, use and download, so there is no cost or stress at all. She has edited several books, among them with harold coward and julius lipner hindu ethics.
In this task, it is often necessary to make explict what is implicit. Dec 05, 2005 contemporary hindu attitudes to euthanasia were examined in 1988 in hinduism today. Although euthanasia and abortion are strongly condemned by the conservative hindu they are accepted on. Purity, abortion, and euthanasia, published by suny press, and images of. Purity, abortion, and euthanasia, published by suny press, and images of the feminine. Nearly 60% of women who experienced a delay in obtaining an abortion cite the time it took to make arrangements and raise money. However, the primary concern is the relief of suffering. Aug 25, 2009 hindu medical ethics stem from the principle of ahimsa of nonviolence. Oct 31, 2000 purity is an important value in hindu and sikh culture. Euthanasia is derived from the greek word eu, meaning good and thanatos meaning death, and early on signified a good or easy death. Hindus their religious beliefs and practices julius lipner london and new york. Hindu ethics purity, abortion and euthanasia by harold g.
Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to. Contemporary hindu attitudes to euthanasia were examined in 1988 in hinduism today. Many products that you buy can be obtained using instruction manuals. Although euthanasia and abortion are strongly condemned by the conservative hindu they are accepted on medical, social and utilitarian grounds. There are several hindu points of view on euthanasia most hindus would say that a doctor should not accept a patients request for. Hindus generally tend to support abortion in cases where the mothers life is at risk or when the fetus has a severe developmental abnormality.
Purity, abortion, and euthanasia mcgill studies in the history of religions mcgill studies in the history of religions suny series, mcgill studies in the history of religions, a series devoted to international scholarship series. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of. The following chapters on purity, abortion, and euthanasia offer case study explorations into specific topics of dharma or hindu ethicscase studies which are selected and presented so as to invite comparisons with modern western thought to develop in the critical reflection of the reader, such comparisons, which are merely suggested here. Lipner, on abortion and the moral status of the unborn, in hindu ethics. There are several hindu points of view on euthanasia most hindus would say that a doctor should not accept a patients request for euthanasia since this will cause the. Euthanasia or planned ending to the patients life by some medical means is a challenging issue of medical ethics. From conflict to compromise biomedical law and ethics library read more. Suddha or shudh in punjabi evokes the image of the human body or elements of nature e. Closely related to dharma is the concept of karma, a causal law in which all moral or immoral acts and thoughts have consequences in the next life. Abortion remains one of the most controversial issues in the united states today. Ethical debates in abortion and euthanasia uk essays. The moving wall represents the time period between the last issue available in jstor and the most recently published issue of a journal.
With particular reference to patanjalis yoga sutras harold g. Purity is an important value in hindu and sikh culture. Aug 20, 2005 hindu ethics on the whole come out strongly against involuntary euthanasia, because it contradicts the principle of autonomy and can lead to abuse. Euthanasia is defined as the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patients intolerable and incurable suffering. Legality and morality of physicianassisted suicide. Hindu views on euthanasia, suicide and abortion in the durban. Religious perspectives on withdrawal of treatment from.
Since this topic deals with hindu views on euthanasia, suicide and abortion, these ethical principles are evaluated and interpreted in relation to the two fundamental hindu principles of karma and dharma and their interpretation amongst hindus in the durban area. Opinion polls in many western democracies would appear to show increasing support for euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide, and a number of recent legal developments have further advanced the cause. Among his books are the face of truth on ramanuja, hindu ethics. The present volume includes a detailed introduction and is divided into three chapters. When considering abortion, the hindu way is to choose the action that will do least harm to all involved.
Teens are more likely than older women to delay having an abortion until after 15 weeks of pregnancy, when the medical risks associated with abortion are significantly higher. Mar 18, 2015 hindu views of euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide vary, but they are all rooted in concerns about karma, reincarnation, and ahimsa nonviolence. Abortion in the pali canon and early buddhist thought. Semantic scholar extracted view of buddhism and suicide. The lesson uses videos and professionally designed videolearning worksheets to provide an overview of hindu perspectives on the theme. Hindu medical ethics stem from the principle of ahimsa of nonviolence. When considering abortion, the hindu way is to choose the action. Abortion, contraception, and responsible sexuality. State university of new york press, albany, new york 1995 view in article. The classical hindu view on abortion and the moral status of the unborn julius j. The general ethical framework and some specific passages, however, help us reconstruct traditional views on certain issues. Euthanasia traditional hindu views and the contemporary debate. The classical hindu view on abortion and the moral status of the unborn. This is the sixth of seven fully resourced lessons for gcse hinduism, thematic studies.