ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 167

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SCHOOL
TIONAL
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SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
स्वाध्यायपर तप
1.2 List of Eminent International Bio-Ethicists Referred
• Abdulaziz Sachedina
Arthur Caplan
• Barnard Nethanson
Damien Keown
James Hughes
James Rachels
• John Robertson
Joseph Fletcher
Julian Savulescu
Leon Kass
Peter Singer
Ruth Faden
AN STUDIES
2.0 Foundations: Jaina Ethical-Moral Doctrines
Jain scriptures have clearly described the foundations of moral and spiritual doctrines and categorized them according to the status of the person, being a monk, semi- monk or a householder. These moral doctrines will help us derive inferences regarding bioethical issues.
Aristotle equates being ethical to being good and being good is to become virtuous i.e. moral virtue or excellence, as it has to do with passions and actions. In Jainism virtues are not limited to being good morally but are also helpful in spiritual pursuit leading to liberation - mokṣa. Though Jainism originated in pre-historical, pre-modern and pre-technological era, yet we can easily draw inferences from its foundations and spiritual cum moral doctrines and relate them to advances in medicine. There are no direct guidelines in scriptures, however. The cardinal virtue as per Jainism is Ahiṁsā (do no harm or do not cause pain to self and others). It therefore should be the basic guideline for understanding Jain view relating to bioethics. Accordingly Jains said that the motivation or the thought process behind bioethics rather than the actual act is the deciding factor in being ethically valid.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0