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The thesis entitled “An analytical study of Kant ’s moral duty in Theravada Buddhist philosophical viewpoint” has three objectives : 1 ) to study Kantian moral duty,
2 ) to study moral duty in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, 3 ) to analyze Kantian moral duty in Theravada Buddhist philosophical viewpoint. This is a qualitative research.
In the first objective, it was found that the Kantian morality is a priori and an absolute one. The good will is the solely absolute good without any condition. Therefore, the morally good action is the one that arises out of only good will. According to Kant, a human being is caused to act by two kinds of motivations that are : 1. Motivation in duty and 2. Motivation in emotion, the former one is of moral – value – action ; this means the action which stems from reason, since the reason is the human being ’ s nature then the action base on reason becomes an action in accordance with the moral law. The moral law is objectively universal law and categorically imperative. One must unconditionally follow it.
In the second objective, it was found that the moral duty in Theravada Buddhist philosophy is aimed at eradicating suffering.The suffering in question is caused by the unwholesome motivation; to get rid of the unwholesome motivation is a kin to putting an end to suffering. In this, the moral value depends upon such a kind of action. Theravada Buddhist Philosophy prescribes Eightfold path as the way to deal with suffering.
In the third objective, Theravada Buddhist philosophy agrees with Kant that the action is judged by the will. On the one hand, Kant regarded the action done by motivation in duty as the moral – value – action; on the other hand, the Theravada Buddhist philosophy regarded the action done by the will as the moral – value – action because it is of wholesome one. While Kantian view of moral duty is so strict, Theravada Buddhist philosophy disagrees with such kant ’s view because some action done by positive motivation such as loving kindness is of moral – value – action. The study shows that both views focus on human being ’ s freedom and perfection.
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