The Nature of Buddhist Ethics by Damien Keown

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Synopsis

Damien Keown examines early and later schools of Buddhism to provide a comprehensive account of the structure of Buddhist ethics. The importance of ethics in the Buddha's teachings is widely acknowledged, but the pursuit of ethical ideals has up to now been widely held to be secondary to the attainment of knowledge. Drawing on the Aristotelian tradition of ethics, Keown argues against this intellectualization of Buddhism and in favor of a new understanding of the tradition in terms of which ethics plays a central role.

Booknews

This is a paperbound reprint of a 1992 book about which Book News wrote: Keown (Indian religion, U. of London) argues against the prevailing view that in Buddhism, ethics takes second place to the attainment of knowledge. Drawing from both early and later schools of Buddhism, and from the Aristotelian tradition of ethics, he reviews such familiar concepts as karma, nirvana, and the Eightfold Path, from a new perspective. Of interest to readers with a background in Buddhism or in comparative religious ethics. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Biography

Damien Keown is Reader in Buddhism in the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths College, University of London.