biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

29
Hindu Philosophy and Ethics of Biotechnology

Upload: poligar

Post on 09-Aug-2015

28 views

Category:

Science


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

Hindu Philosophy and

Ethics of Biotechnology

Page 2: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 3: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 4: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

“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

Page 5: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 6: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

Ultimate Reality is All Pervasive

Page 7: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 8: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 9: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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)

Page 10: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

Fourth Law of Ecology = Karma

Karma = All Actions have consequences

Page 11: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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)

Page 12: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 13: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 14: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 15: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

The Principles of Hindu Philosophy

Applied to Current Issues

Page 16: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 17: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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.

Page 18: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 19: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 20: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 21: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 22: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 23: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 24: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 25: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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 )

Page 26: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 27: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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.

Page 28: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

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

Page 29: Biotech ethics-and-hindu-philosophy

Thank You All