We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Retributive karma and the problem of blaming the victim.
- Authors
Burley, Mikel
- Abstract
A defining feature of retributive conceptions of karma is their regarding of suffering or misfortune as consequent upon sins committed in previous lives. Some critical non-believers in karma take offence at this view, considering it to involve unjustly blaming the victim. Defenders of the view demur, and argue that a belief in retributive karma in fact provides a motivation for benevolent action. This article elucidates the debate, showing that its depth is such that it is best characterized as a disagreement in form of life (in Wittgenstein's sense) rather than as a disagreement in opinions. Also briefly discussed is an example of a non-retributive form that belief in karma and reincarnation can take.
- Subjects
BLAMING the victim; LEX talionis; KARMA; REINCARNATION; BUDDHIST doctrines; HINDU doctrines; SHARMA, Arvind; WITTGENSTEIN, Ludwig, 1889-1951
- Publication
International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2013, Vol 74, Issue 2, p149
- ISSN
0020-7047
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11153-012-9376-z