International Journal of Academic Research

ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-2(1), July- September, 2014

Virtue Ethics in Indian Philosophy

Archana Malik-Goure, Asst. Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of

Mumbai, Maharastra

Introduction with customs and habits. Ethics

discusses mens habits and customs,
Ethics in Indian terminology is
their character, the principles on which
called It is a branch of
they habitually act, and considers what
philosophy which deals with moral
it is that constitutes the rightness or
values and moral norms. Ethics, which is
wrongness of these principles, the good
most important branch of philosophy,
or evil of these habits1. Ethics
that addresses questions about morality,
discriminates between the right and
that is, concepts such as good and evil,
wrong and good and bad behaviour and
right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice
conduct. It also points out what can be
and injustice etc. it also deals with
supreme good towards which all our life
human values (four ), the aims
may to be directed.
of human life. Value is both that the end
of human life and also being at the roots Generally, the term ethics is
of human actions. The word Ethics understood as an embodiment of certain
comes from the Greek word norms, principles, values, customs etc.
meaning "character" and also connected these norms etc, are meant to guide and
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ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-2(1), July- September, 2014

regulate human conduct with a view to
ensure the well being of the humanity.
Some philosophers have called ethics is
the theoretical examination of morality2.
Therefore it is also known as Moral
philosophy, or theory of Morals.
According to some philosophers ethics is
also known as Axiology. The term
Axiology is derived from Greek ,
"value, worth"; and logos or reason3. It is
the philosophical study of values. In
Indian tradition axiology many times
assumes the form of the theory of
s. Before going in detail what
is and nature and kinds of
this work will also focus on
the origin of values and virtues in Indian
ethics and give general information
about virtue ethics in its early phases.
Origin of Indian philosophy and
Ethics
The are accepted to be
divine and origin of Indian philosophy
and religion. the first-
lawgiver rightly declares
all the roots of our
religion and morality is to be traced to
the Vedas.5 It is commonly understood
that Hindu thought has developed six
major orthodox systems of Indian
philosophy. The word orthodox,
appears quite out of place in Indian
philosophical traditions. The six systems
of Hindu philosophy present radically
differing world views, but each system
recognizes the sacred authority of the
and is thus considered orthodox as of this fact that Indian philosophy could
against those systems, such as the Jaina
and the Buddhist, and independent
school of Indian philosophy .i.e. . fountain head of the history of Indian
Indian philosophical schools not only
differ in their metaphysical &
epistemological approaches but they also
differ in substance & details in terms of
their value-perspectives or perspectives
of life.
The ethical models placed by
Indian thinkers thousands of years back
are universal familiar. These ideals were
never regarded as mere theories of
morality, but as modes of spiritual life by
adopting which the individual and
society could expand in pleasurable
manner. Indian ethics does not divorce
theory from practice. On the contrary it
tries to bring out a synthesis of the ideal
and the practical aspects of human life.
Indian ethics is synthesis of spiritual
insight into the fundamental unity of the
universe and encourages a practical
pluralistic outlook with regard to the
social and ethical aspect of human life.
Indian ethics is based on i.e.
ultimate goal of life. The Indian
conception of values- viz the four
connote as the goals of
human life to be achieved through
activities or practice. All human
activities are directed towards some or
other goal.
Indian philosophy is mainly
axiological and additionally, cosmological
and epistemological. In the words of
T.M.P. Mahadevan Indian philosophy is
essentially a philosophy of values.6
According to Mahadevan, it was because
maintain its close alliance with religion.7
The Vedas have been venerated as the
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ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-2(1), July- September, 2014

culture, religion and philosophy.

Everything relating to the Indian way of
The was introduced or
life has its roots in the wisdom protected
more correctly formulated in veidc
in the ancient tradition of the Vedas.
period. The word derived from
It has been remarked that the root meaning to toil The four
compared with the amount of attention or stages of human life are: (1)
given by Hindu thinkers to the subjects , stage of studentship; (2)
of religion and philosophy, the scientific , is the central place in life
study of ethics has received very little (house holder/) stage of the
attention from them. There is plenty householder/family life (3) ,
of discussion in Hindu literature about free from house hold responsibility
rules of moral conduct and about the (Retirement) life; and (4) ,
applicability of the rules to various Free from worldly life, die withought any
situations in life. The topics which are wish. (Renunciation).
usually considered in modern ethical
:
treatises are the standard or criterion of
morality, the conceptions of good, virtue in Sanskrit means colour. The
and vice, right and duty, the origin of the system is said to evolved as a
moral sense and the sanctions of consequence of division of labour.
duties. So in India the foundations of is a System of social
ethics were sought to be laid upon the division in Vedic culture that
rock of revelation, i.e. the or characterizes traditional Hindu society.
. 8 is the term for the four broad
ranks into which traditional Hinsu
Three central concepts in the Vedas
society is divided. The four are:
As already discussed above Vedas
(1) : priests and scholars,
are the origins of Indian philosophy.
preachers.
There are certain very important
concepts accepted in the Vedas. Vedas (2) : kings, governors,
are basically divided into two parts warriors and soldiers.
and where
(3) : cattle herders,
the former deals with the work or the agriculturists, artisans and
ritual part and the latter deals with the
merchants.
knowledge in the highest form. The
main ideal of the practical life (4) : labourers and service
() consists of duties of man providers.
that is , and the While was followed by
. men at the social level
was followed at the individual level.
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ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-2(1), July- September, 2014

: debts are inherited by birth and they are

to be and back without expecting
In , there is the idea of an all-
benefits. These debts are inherited by
pervading cosmic order , which is
birth and they are to be paid back
the eternal, primary principle of the
without expecting benefits. The
universe. It has no beginning. It governs
Mahabharata gives five kinds of
the entire universal order and signifies
instead of three. It is who
Universal or Cosmic order.10 which
mentions some details about the debts
stands for harmony and balance in
and the methods of paying them back.
nature and in human society. Here is
He says that Everyone should liberate
described as a power or force which is
himself from the debts to the gods, the
the controller of the forces of nature and
guest, the dependents, the ancestors and
of moral values in human society. In
ones own self which are inherited by
human society, when this harmony and
birth. To pay back the as of the
balance are disturbed, there is disorder
seers, he should study the Vedas, those
and suffering. This is the power or force
of the god by means of sacrifices those of
that lies behind nature and keeps
the ancestors by means of offering
everything in balance. In Indian
liberation and those of the guests by
tradition, the concept of is the
means of hospitality. He can also
anticipation of the law of karma, one of
liberate himself from the debts by
the distinguish characteristics of Indian
reciting the Vedas, by eating what is left
thought. furnishes us with a
in a sacrifice, by protecting himself. He
standard of morality. It is the universal
should arrange for the protection of
essence of things. It is the or the
dependents from the beginning.13
truth of things. Disorder or An- is
falsehood The good
of those who follow the path of he
The concept of or the
true and ordered. Ordered conduct is
concept of four ends of life is also very
called true are the ways of
important concept in Vedas. These four
life of good men who follow the path of
ends of life are the goals which are

desirable in them and also needed for
The term dharma is traced to the fulfillment of human aspirations. These
. It governs not only the are
movements in the vast universe but also
(1) - righteousness
controls the conduct of human beings. It
is the supreme moral law. It is identical (2) -wealth, power.
with the and (3) -fulfillment of desire; and
are its aspects.12
(4) liberation.

The theory of debts another important
concept is accepted in Vedas. These
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ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-2(1), July- September, 2014

The fulfillment of all of these speculative or practical reason. The

four aspirations of life is moral virtues perfect the will and the
important for human life. sensitive tendencies.
In the Hindu way of life, every individual There is no term corresponding
expected to perform his or her duty to the Greek term virtue in the ,
appropriate to his or her caste ( ) the text does provide us with a detailed
and stage of life ( ). This division discussion of dispositions, qualities,
of ones life into the four and characters, and excellences that we
their respective , was designed, generally associate with virtues.
in principle at least, to provide in his text lists five
fulfillment to the person in his social, virtues: ahimsa (non-violence),
moral and spiritual aspects, and so to (truthfulness), (abstention from
lead to harmony and balance in the theft), (chastity) and
society. In this classification, (renunciation).14
and are most important from the makes a distinction among virtues of the
ethical point of view. They give right body, speech, and the mind. 15
direction and purpose to human life. For Sanskrit poet and philosopher (600 B.C.)
instance, acquiring wealth ) is a also in his text talks about
desirable objective, provided however it the list of the virtues like Penance,
also serves that is, the welfare charity, knowledge, character,
of the society. forgiveness, love, pity, self-control, truth
etc.16
Etymological meaning of the term
Virtue Indian theory of Virtue:
In a general sense, virtue means Indian theory of virtue means
perfection of an operative faculty. These The notion of is
faculties are the intellect, (theoretical an incorporated approach to the value
and practical), the will, and faculty of system in Indian ethics. The concept of
the irascible tendency. The Latin term is one of the most
Virtues comes from the Greek important concepts in Indian philosophy.
that means excellence, capacity, worth. The term generally refers
Also, Virtues comes from (man) and to human goals, something that human
refers originally to virility. And both of being tried to pursue or, in a certain
them refer to the excellence of man as sense of the term value, the values that
such. Ethical life is life according to the they cherish. The four-fold division of
virtues. Virtues have an opposite: vices, may be said to give us the
which are things that go against the classification in terms of four types of
perfection of human nature and should such values. In order to understand
be avoided. The human virtues can be Indian moral thought one has to
intellectual or moral. The intellectual understand the terminology of
virtues inhere and perfect the . In the ancient Indian
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tradition the purely theoretical level to human level, from human level to
conceptual analysis is also presented in the level of ideal moral man and from
the framework of goals of ideal human that to the level of spiritual perfection.
life. are the goals which satisfy
the bodily needs, the economic needs, the
Etymological meaning of
psychological needs, the moral needs and
In Indian tradition the
the religious or spiritual needs.
Sanskrit word means "that
signify the integrated
which is sought by man; or that which
approach to human problems and human
is desired by man human purpose, aim,
life. A man is not merely the material
or end" refers to a goal, end or aim of
entity, but a moral and a spiritual being
human existence. The term
too integrates and
consists of two words, viz., and
subordinate the worldly life, to the moral
. means person or self,
and spiritual life.
and means aim or goal of human
life. literally means what the Need of :
person () desires as good (
A mans physical growth is
Therefore it means is the
natural. Therefore it must be
end or goal which people desire to
harmonized with its mental, moral and
achieve, . The
spiritual growth. Human beings are
concept expresses the
different from animals not simply
nuance for the sake of man, on account
because they are rational but because
of man.18
they are moral, they can control with
Hiriyanna seems to describe transcend whatever happens as a part a
natural life. The primary urges (instinct)
in terms of value. Hiriyanna says, it is a human
value-consciously pursued an object of desire. common
He to all animals are hunger, sex
starts with the distinction between fact and and enjoyment. They too must be
value and describes value as it is this gratified. The difference between a man
satisfaction of desire or attainment of endsand as an animal is that a man can seek
the results of knowing facts that is to them be knowingly while the animal does
understood by value19. Karl potter considers so unknowingly.
as attitude or orientation. He
says that an
says Rather these terms are to be constructed
uncivilized, uncluttered human being in
more subtly, perhaps as attitudes or
whom there no learning, knowledge,
orientations.20
character any virtue of a sense o duty
Ancient India thinkers tried to are a burden for the earth in this moral
determine the fundamental values of life world and wander here apparently men
in order to assist an individual to plan his but in reality they are beasts, is just like
course, thus giving meaning to life. an animal with two legs.21 Similar idea is
are the fulfillment of the found in wherein it is
goals which uplift a man from the animal stated that a human being when guided
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by craving or passion ( ) lives like a of three), sometimes as (the

monkey and mechanically.22 A man can class of four). Sometimes there is a
control, regulate and sublimate his urges mention of one or two and
but an animal cannot. A man alone has others are either neglected or
ideas, values, purpose and sense of duty undermined. Even in the places where
and responsibility in life. A man has three or four are mentioned,
intelligence and conscience to the interrelation between these
discriminate between the right and is not accepted everywhere
wrong, good and evil and beautiful and as the same. It would be therefore,
ugly. In addition to that, a man alone incorrect to say that ancient Indian
has the freedom of choosing the right culture (or the classical literature of it,
and acting accordingly. Therefore a man for that matter) reflects a singular
needs . theory of . Though we did not
have a single theory of , we
Four Types of :
did have various theories on ,
reflecting various normative approaches
to life.
The four prescribed As mentioned above many
for man are (righteousness or writers use the term, trivarga instead of
moral character), (wealth), mentioning the four values. But all
(sex or fulfillment of desire), and writers have nevertheless the fourfold
(emancipation). Of these four, is concept in their mind. Writers on
basis and it pervades throughout the life. ,
and are subordinate to and as well as poets,
and they should be controlled, philosophers, and saints have declared
regulated and guided by . that is the goal of life and
is the highest and the final goal. This have tried to elaborately explain these
are the guiding principles ideals in numerous poems, treatises,
for the individual and social life of man. narratives and fables. These values are
The ancient sages and seers of the Vedic the guiding principles for the entire
times, after carefully examining scheme of life envisaged and assiduously
requirements and the problems of developed by ancient thinkers and
human existence, have given these rulers.24
. They suggested these
in order to satisfy bodily,
mental, moral and spiritual need of
human life.
In ancient Indian literature the
are mentioned in various
ways as constituting trivarga (the class
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uphold human existence in its fullness.

The upholding of human existence
implies mans biological, social and
psychological sustenance and
nourishment; indicates both
self-restraint and self-development. So
restrain in order to rise i.e. to achieve
higher levels of human existence, is the
first lesson of . It thus, strikes a
All value theories and theories of balance between the egoistic impulses
normative ethics are centered the and social tendencies, the secular and
concept of human self and his desires spiritual dimensions of man.
and interests. All the means which means righteousness. It also includes
satisfy human desires are instrumental morality, law and order in life. Dharma
values. All of them can be brought under means performance of righteous action
the concept of and the ends on the guidance given by and
served by them are brought under the . are the revealed texts and
head of . Hence, in the words of are the books of moral and the
Hiriyanna, they and are codes. Dharma includes the development
the useful and agreeable and represent of virtues and eradication of vices.
the lower values25. Hiriyanna gives the Dharma consists in forming the habit of
impression to define in doing what is right. Dharma includes
terms of value. There are two kinds of (order and harmony) (morality
values, viz. intrinsic or absolute and and righteousness) or
instrumental. According to Hiriyanna, (purity and sanctity) and
and stand for the (truthfulness and reality). Dharma
spiritual values-instrumental and refers to acceptance and promotion of
intrinsic respectively which are free from good and rejection and removal of evil.
the above defects and all other kinds of Dharma means righteousness, goodness,
values suffering from those defects are truthfulness and purity in thought
classed under the secular values of speech and action. Dharma is the
and the former being foundation of life. Plain living and high
instrumental, and the latter intrinsic. In thinking is the basis of dharma. It does
short, according to not mean killing and suppression of the
Hiriyanna is value; and desire for wealth, sex and enjoyment.
are spiritual (i.e. Rather it implies the control and
and ).26 regulation of these desires on the
principles of morality and righteousness.
Therefore such a dharma is a must in
as a moral value contains all the life of every human being.
the principles required to sustain and
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corrupt. Without temptations,

bribe and exploitation becomes means to
attain wealth, such a wealth give rise to
Dharma is the basis of the whole life.
individuals destruction and social
It acts for the welfare of all creation and
degeneration. Therefore should be
holds the entire universe together.
governed by is a value,
Dharma is declared in several passages
only when it helps a man and society to
of Vedic literature. As discussed above
progress, otherwise it is . Artha
the word is derived from the Sanskrit
is a value only if it is governed by
root which means to hold together;
This seems to be the thinking
so dharma is the principle which
of also, as he said very clearly
maintains the stability of society and
.that he (the king) should be without
hence for the well being of all creation.
pleasures, but he should enjoy pleasures
as a value contains all the
which are not against and
principles required to sustain and
. Or he should pursue the three
uphold human existence in its fullness
equally which are bound up with one
and integrity. Therefore dharma is a
another. If anyone is pursued in excess,
distinguishing characteristic of man.
it harms itself and the other two.28


. ( 1,
179, 5). The word has several
is objective & virtuous pursuit of
meanings as mention above. It includes
wealth for livelihood, obligations and
sexual pleasure but it is not to be
economic prosperity. Artha while the
exclusively identified with sex only. It is
deals with the
a value provided it is pursued in
righteousness and duty the
accordance with moral and social norms.
deals with the material gains and
Just as Manu composed ,
acquisition of power. The Vedic
the treatise of duty and righteous,
philosophy considers artha as a great
composed , the
value or goal in life, because wealth gives
treatise of wealth and power, and
many opportunities to lead an
composed , the
enlightened life, a life of culture and
treatise of love and sex. The definition
happiness. Wealth gives opportunity to
in is; Kama is the enjoyment
contribute ones best share the good of
of appropriate objects by the five senses
the society and that it should be
assisted by mind and soul. , is not
righteously earned on to the principles of
just limited to the satisfaction of the
should be governed by
sexual urge. For, according to the
dharma. Without the desire for
, it also is the result of the
wealth give rise to greed, jealousy,
activity of all the five senses.29
rivalry, hatred and social conflicts.
, the classical systematic
Without wealth makes a man
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writer on sexology (Kamasutra), devotion, parental attachment, beauty

advocates the importance of moderation
and the significance of rejecting lustful
methods of love-making. life. Therefore Kama should always be
reassures his readers that is not under the control and guidance of
necessarily opposed to the attainment of
the higher goal But he recommends
moderation in all sensual pleasures.
Hence, he does not advise that his
readers should indulge in all the forms
of love-making He even goes so far as
to condemn some of the methods of love-
making, which have been described in
his scientific treatise on sexology as
being undesirable because he regards
them as being of a lustful rather than of
an erotic nature.30
According to also is
supposed to be regulated by
. (The , 7:11) If
divorced from dharma; then it
becomes passion, wild stimulation, lust,
greed, jealousy, hatred, rivalry, anger,
maliciousness, fear, flirting tendency
and habit of transgressing sex norms.
All such things ruin the individual life
and degenerate the society. Kama is the
primary urge or basic instinct. Hence it
should not be curbed or killed otherwise
it is likely to give rise to psychasm and
neurosis. Therefore it must be satisfied
but more than that it must be
sublimated with the help of .
Therefore one must practice the virtue
of non-violence, self-control, purity,
sacrifice and service to the society.
is sex, desire, will, zest, for life creation and holds the entire universe
glory and all types of gratification.
is the basis of love affection, life and conduct of all animate and non-
tender emotion, friendship, loyalty,
and creativity in life and arts. It is the
main spring of all pleasures and joys of
dharma.
is the fourth in
the Indian virtue ethics, stand for the
spiritual principle. It marks the use of
the process of moral development.
means perfect liberation or
eternal happiness.
or supreme
goal of human existence in Indian
ethics. directs the people along
the right path by regulating their
enjoyment of and is
generally taken to consist of
metaphysical self-realization in Indian
systems. literally means freedom,
liberation, salvation, and release from
bondage. means freedom from
bondage, Freedom from sufferings,
freedom from attachment to the objects
of desires etc. is the attainment
of perfection through right knowledge
and right conduct. It is the freedom
from the cycles of births and death for
ever. is the self realization and
god realization. liberates the man
from the fear of pains.
Although is the highest goal
in Indian philosophy, has a
position of pre-eminence in life. It is the
basis of all life. It binds together all
together. It is the law that regulates the
animate creation. is the
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foundation and first of the four human for the fulfillment of those goals. Such a
goals. refers to moral duties, fulfillment of set goals gives men a
obligations and conduct as discussed feeling of containment and competition
above. Why not follow such a path of which make them happy, not just feel
righteousness when instead of happy but be happy. Harmony within
hindering, it helps in the achievement of will lead human being towards
and righteously? Thus even happiness. Dutiful approach towards
the wealth and fulfillment of other others will make life purposeful as well
desires should be based on the guidance as progressive. This ethical approach
of the principles of or morality. will in reality benefit the society.
Thus means controlling the
From the above discussion we
animal in man. , ,
can conclude that the theory of
and are the main
, the implication of this
pillars of also means
notion is broadly axiological and
dutifulness with a sense of
specifically ethical however as expressed
responsibility. Such a means
in the doctrine of the four ,
brings about order and harmony in the
it forms the source of a comprehensive
individual life and in the society.
philosophy of life. What is appropriate at
v. Conclusion a certain period would be inappropriate
at another time. So, one has to make
The integrate and
distinction between needed and needless
subordinate the worldly life to the moral
theories. If in modern times our society
and spiritual life. They enable a man to
requires changes to be made, they must
make his all round development and
be made for the harmony of the society.
satisfy all the elements of human nature
on the principles of righteousness and References:
morality. The practice of four goals of
life, which are 1
J. S. Mackenzie,
and presumed that
pp. 1
the process of living for human being is
2
made meaningful by understanding and Oliver A. Johnson, pp.3.
orienting it to certain well-defined 3
Journal
purpose. among them is a very Vol 32, pp.
important and cardinal value. It is 29.
restraining as well as a growth
4
promoting value. controls all Note: manausmaRtaI is the
the relationships in society and inspires most important and earliest metrical
man to rise to expand his personality work of the textual
and even to ennoble the whole world; tradition of Hinduism. Generally known
( in English as the Laws of Manu.
9.63.5). 31 Human beings live their life
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5 19
S.G. Nigal, M. Hiriyanna,
p. 17. p. 21.
6 20
T.M.P. Mahadevan Social, Ethical, and Karl Potter,
Spiritual Values in Indian Philosophy;, p. 1-29
from the Indian Mind, edited by C.A. 21
by 15.
Moore, East-West Centre Press,
22
Honolulu, p. 152, . , Eng. Translation by
7
Radhakrishnana, p. 164.
S.G. Nigal,
23
, p. 7. Kulkarni, Chidambara,
8
, p. 69.
P.S. Sivaswamy Aiyer,
24
, p. 5, 7, 8. Kulkarni, Chidambara,
9
, p. 69.
S. Radhakrishnan, ,
25
vol.1, p 132. Nigal, S.G.,
10
p 29.
Kulkarni, C.M., Vedic Foundations of
26
Indian Culture, P. 71. Bhelke and Gokhale,(Ed.),
11

S. Radhakrishnan, ,
p. 96
vol.1, p 110.
27
12
S.G. Nigal,
Kulkarni, C.M., Vedic Foundations of
p. 64.
Indian Culture, p. 71.
28
13
Kautilaya Arthashastra, 1,7:3-5.

29
, P.V. Kane, History of
Edited by Rajendra Prasad, Vol XII, Part ,
II, p. 112. Mahabharata 12, 292, 9-11. II-1, Poona, p. 9.
30
14
of , 2:35-39. S.G. Nigal,
15
, p. 47.
on the ,
31
1.1.2. S.G. Nigal,
16
p. 65.
of p. 14-15,
23, 85.
17
Bhelke and Gokhale,

p. 103.
18
P.V. Kane, ,
Vol. 2, p. 151.