Pratiloma Paranoia: Class Hierarchy, Conservatism, and Ethics in Classical Hindu Law

Religions Pub Date : 2024-07-07 DOI:10.3390/rel15070820
Donald R. Davis
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Abstract

The Hindu law tradition grounds its social ethics on an ideological hierarchy of class or caste known as varṇa. The positive inculcation of this hierarchy is bolstered by a fear of social inversion, known as pratiloma, in every area of law and society. Through an examination of the concept of pratiloma, this article contends first that the central Hindu law principle of dharma, religious and legal duty, depends upon knowing and abiding by one’s place in society. From this Hindu articulation of social rank as the foundation of ethics, the article then draws a comparison between classical Anglo-American conservatism and Hindu law to suggest that conservative traditions in general base moral action on social station and the fear of breaking social rank. Ethics in Hindu law, therefore, are derived from an acceptance of social station within the varṇa hierarchy and the constant cultivation of local expectations of proper behavior according to social position.
Pratiloma Paranoia:古典印度教法律中的阶级等级、保守主义和伦理道德
印度教的法律传统将其社会伦理建立在意识形态的阶级或种姓等级制度之上,这种等级制度被称为 "varṇa"。在法律和社会的各个领域,对社会颠倒的恐惧(被称为 "pratiloma")加强了对这种等级制度的正面灌输。通过对 "pratiloma "概念的研究,本文首先论证了印度教法律的核心原则 "达摩",即宗教和法律义务,取决于了解和遵守自己在社会中的地位。从印度教将社会地位作为道德基础的阐述出发,文章对英美古典保守主义和印度教法律进行了比较,指出保守主义传统一般将道德行为建立在社会地位和对打破社会地位的恐惧之上。因此,印度教法律中的道德源于对 varṇa 等级制度中社会地位的认可,以及根据社会地位不断培养当地对适当行为的期望。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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