Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy
Transcript of Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy
Hindu Philosophy and
Ethics of Biotechnology
Objectives of This Talk
• To introduce some of the basic tenets of Hindu Philosophy (Hinduism)
• To compare these with the current thoughts and beliefs in bio-ethics & ecology
• To demonstrate the concordance between Hindu Philosophy and Current Ethical beliefs
HINDUISM – an intro
• Refers to the religion of the people living around and to the East of the river Indus
• The earliest records of this religion are in the Rig Veda, – the oldest known human
literature. – Some parts of the Veda have
been dated to 6000 BC (over 8000 years old)
Shalagram – the Cosmic Spheroid
“Tat tvam asi” = ‘Thou art that’
• The cosmic Ultimate Reality, "Brahman" is present in all things.
• Realisation that every one of us is one with Brahman is the basis for one's love and acceptance of every one & every thing.
An Oil Painting from www.marufow-art.de
First Law of Ecology = “Tat tvam asi”
• The First Law: – Everything Is
Connected to Everything Else
• The Second Law: – Everything Must Go
Somewhere
• The Third Law:– Nature Knows Best
• Fourth Law : – There is No such
Thing as A Free Lunch
• Ref: Barry Commoner, The Closing Circle: Nature, Man and Technology, (N.Y., Alfred Knopf, 1971)
“If you want to see an endangered species, get up and look in the mirror.”
- John Young, former Apollo astronaut
Ultimate Reality is All Pervasive
The Three Principles of Hindu Philosophy based on “Tat tvam asi”
I. Uphold the principles of sanctity and quality of life
II. Preserve and guard individual and communal health
III. Rectify imbalances in the processes of nature and to correct states that threaten life and well being
“Our moral and ethical responsibility is to protect other species in the spirit of husbandry rather than destroy them in and attitude of conquest.” - Charles Southwick
Ethics - Three Guiding Principles
• Karma:
actions & reactions
• Dharma: Righteousness & truth
• Marga:
Pathway & Destiny• Ref:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Hindus-946/Hinduism-true-Religion.htm
)
“ ‘It is the coward and the fool who says this is fate,' goes the Sanskrit proverb, but it is the strong man who stands up and says, ‘I will make my fate’.”
- Swami Vivekananda
Karma
• Karma is action and all its consequences
• Good and Bad refer to the outcomes of the action– Good Karma = desirable consequences– Bad Karma = Undesirable consequences
• That which is worthy of achievement is good (good karma)
Fourth Law of Ecology = Karma
Karma = All Actions have consequences
Dharma
• Right & wrong (also good & bad ) are relative terms
• Right and Wrong refer to the moral standard, rules or behavioural norms
• That which is in accordance with a rule is right (path of Dharma)
Dharma & Karma in Ethical Issues
• Concept of Dharma guides Ethical action based on existing Rules and Norms of what is right and what is not
• Concept of Karma guides one to face the consequences of action – at times even a dharmic action may result in
Bad Karmic outcome (e.g. selective foeticide) forcing a re-look at the rules governing this
Rule of Reciprocity is Universal
• Rule of Reciprocity: "Do unto others as you wish others do unto you.“
• This is the secret of Dharma and the essence of Karma Yoga
• The modern ethical principles are based on the same rule of reciprocity
Hinduism and Universal Ethics
• “Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah” - non-maleficence in thought, word and deed is the highest of all virtues
• “Tat tvam asi”- There is but one Life, one common consciousness in all beings
• “Marga” – Destiny or Path
= Beneficence &
Non-maleficence
= Equality
= Autonomy Principles of Universal
Ethics
The Principles of Hindu Philosophy
Applied to Current Issues
Ethical Arguments About Biotechnology
• Intrinsic: Biotechnology is good/bad in itself– Dharma based or Deontological ethics
• Extrinsic: Biotechnology is good/bad because of:– its consequences– the motivations behind:
• advocacy of biotech or• opposition to biotech
– Karma based Utilitarian ethics
Karma & Biotech Ethics
• Biotechnology is good/bad because of its consequences. (Good or Bad Karma)
• Three ways to evaluate consequences:• Do no harm (avoid bad consequences).• Maximize good consequences and minimize
bad ones for all affected.• Justice: Fair distribution of good and bad
consequences among all affected.
Eco-unfriendly is Bad-Karma
• “In order for something to become clean, something else must become dirty.”– Imbesi's Conservation of
Filth Law
• “Unfortunately, our Affluent society has also been an Effluent society.”– Hubert H. Humphrey
Hindu Philosophy Applied to Current Bio-ethical Issues
I. Transcendent character of life expressed through the principles of sanctity and quality of life
II. Preserve and guard individual and communal health
III. Rectify imbalances in the processes of nature and to correct states that threaten life and well being
Sacred Life – Guard Individuals
• Discrimination against the female sex would not be acceptable
• Prenatal sex selection and sex-selective abortions would be a violation of the Hindu faith
• Mercy killing is also a violation
Assisted Reproductive Technology
• Procreation and propagation of the species is a central tenet of Hinduism– when practiced under limits
& social norms– permits in-vitro fertilisation,
embryo transfer and surrogate motherhood
• Respect for all forms of life, able or disabled– Xenotransplantation will be
acceptable as there is worship of animal life in Hinduism
The Principles of Hindu Philosophy Applied to Current Issues – 2
I. Transcendent character of life expressed through the principles of sanctity and quality of life
II. Preserve and guard individual and communal health
III. Rectify imbalances in the processes of nature and to correct states that threaten life and well being
Rectifying Imbalances in Nature
• Advances in genomics and proteomics would be permissible if used to benefit humankind (Utilitarian ethical view)
• Ref: S Cromwell Crawford. Hindu bioethics for the twenty-first century. State University of New York Press 2003
Cloning in Hindu Mythology
• Lord of Fire (Agni Deva) created ‘Maya Sita’ for Rama so that the ‘cloned’ Sita could pass the test of fire (Agnipariksha)
• Ref: Pauranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani published by Motilal Banarsi Das,l993 pp10-11&548-549
Cloning in Hindu Mythology - 2
• In a battle with Kali, the goddess of Destruction of Evil, 1000 fighting clones of Titan (Rakthavija) appeared from each blood drop he spilt
• The battlefield was soon full of these fighting clones…
• How was he then eliminated? – that is another story! (http://www.bhagavadgitausa.com/KALI.htm )
Cloning - A Hindu Perspective:
A Letter to the US President
• “Hinduism neither condones nor condemns the march of science
• If done with divine intent and consciousness, it may benefit
• if done for selfishness, greed and power, it may bring severe negative karmic consequences
• The simple rule is this: • Cause no injury to others and
let dharma--the law of good conduct and harmony with the universe and its many forces and creatures--be the guide for all such explorations.?
• “Hindu scriptures have dozens of references to cloning - these writings, several thousands of years old, are proving to be prescient
• Hindu's concern for the well being of the soul in its journey from life to life far surpasses concern for the well being of the current embodiment.”
• To create a better future, current tribulations may be endured with equanimity.– Hinduism Today April 1,1997
A Story to finish the Talk…
• Four friends saw some animal's bones. Three of them, fresh from Science learning, wanted to bring it back to life.
• The first one assembled the bones into a skeleton
• The second one gave it flesh & skin to get a lifeless lion
• The fourth tried to stop the third one from giving life to the predator
• The third one went ahead and gave life to the lion
• The hungry lion at once killed the three learned men of science
• The fourth, who had climbed a tree, escaped.
To Sum Up –
• Hinduism believes in all pervasive Ultimate Reality – self is inseparable from non-self
• Dharma concept (rule and norm based) guides one to the Right actions
• Karma concept (Action and its Consequences) guides one to Good actions
• Hindu literature cites cloning and similar biotech ideas, if done for welfare of others, as desirable acts
• The use of common sense and practical wisdom is more important than purposeless Scientific pursuits
Thank You All