Hindu Ethics: The Approach of Sankara and Gandhi – Ethical Relativism


Published: Mar 25, 2020
Keywords:
Hindu Ethics; Sankara; Mahatma Gandhi; Advaita Vedanta; Ethical Relativism; Non-Dualism; Social Humanism; Cultural Exchange
Marialena Stampoliadi
Abstract

This article provides a three-part analysis of Hindu ethical thought and its interaction with Western philosophy. The first section examines the philosophical system of Sankara, known as Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism), which posits that the ultimate reality is a unified, non-dual essence. The second part explores the ethical philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, focusing on how his principles of non-violence and truth guided the Indian independence movement. In the final section, the author investigates whether Eastern traditions and Western/Christian ideas can coexist or if they are destined for ethical relativism. The study concludes by proposing a "unified ethical intuition" rooted in social humanism as a means to foster cultural exchange and prevent "cultural imperialism," seeking a deeper serenity than that typically found in Western rationalism.

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