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большая тёрка
Большая Тёрка / Мысли /
Личная лента
NellyCook
Buddhism and Politics
The Buddhist view of the role of the government in the modern world is quite unique. It allows specifying the proper functions of the government as well as the qualities that responsible citizens should develop. This paper examines the article Applied Idealism: A Buddhist Perspective on the Necessity of Government (1998) by Yen Sheng, which provides a helpful insight regarding the optimal and practical steps needed for arriving at the state of global social harmony.
Sheng (1998) provides several levels of analysis in the article. On the one hand, he demonstrates that Buddhism in its strictest application perceives the government as the violation of peoples rights. This is because all people should be free from coercion and make responsible decisions based on their responsibility rather than the fear of punishment. On the other hand, Buddhists realize that the current world is not perfect, and the government should exist in order to enforce laws and social norms as well as protect individuals from foreign invasions (Sheng, 1998). However, Buddhists suggest that the government should mainly focus on education rather than harsher punishments.
In the international sphere, Buddhism promotes a cognitive approach that tries to find common values among representatives of different countries. On this basis, governments and societies should make ultimate decisions. In the long run, such actions will lead to the establishment of peaceful and mutually beneficial international relations. Buddhists suggest that the government should protect its citizens from foreign aggression as well as contribute to the sustainable development of the national economy (Sheng, 1998). In addition, the Buddhist approach encourages Buddhist organizations to focus on the needs of the entire community and help people with diverse needs.
The article's main points and the description of interpretation in the unit lesson are interconnected. First of all, it is evident that a sustainable social development is possible only if the interested parties use peaceful and mutually beneficial methods. Reliance on force is justified only as a response to foreign aggression. At the same time, it is reasonable to provide consultations to find the solutions that do not violate the rights of people and meet the interests of various countries. Buddhists seem to be correct that responsible citizens should focus on their consciousness and duties. In contrast, reliance on the fear of punishment may have only minor and temporary effects.
It seems that the Buddhist analysis has certain implications regarding the current development of relationships between the government and society. As the ideal world is characterized by the absence of coercion and aggression, there is no need for the governments existence. Correspondingly, the proper direction of the social development should presuppose the diminishing governments involvement in all social spheres. However, the actual experience shows the opposite tendency. The scope of the governments intervention has increased substantially during the last century. It means that serious legal and ethical problems exist in the modern world.
In general, the articles conclusion and supporting arguments seem to be well-developed and justified. The author is right in saying that moral aspects play a crucial role in the social life, especially in the long run. Moreover, the supporting reasons are also well-integrated with one another, and they do not contain any logical or practical contradictions. Even the Buddhists appeal to the ideal society is not utopian but a practical guidance for the transformation of the entire society and achievement of the selected objectives. Most importantly, Buddhists consider the government as a means of the promotion of the general well-being of people and protection of the interests of all individuals without exceptions.
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