Environmental Ethics in Buddhism

<p><em>Environmental Ethics in Buddhism</em> presents a logical and thorough examination of the metaphysical and ethical dimensions of early Buddhist literature. The author determines the meaning of nature in the early Buddhist context from general Buddhist teachings on dhamma paticcasamuppada samsara and the cosmogony of the Agganna Sutta. Consequently the author shows that early Buddhism can be understood as an environmental virtue ethics. To illustrate this dimension the Jatakas are used as a source. These are a collection of over five hundred folk tales which also belong to early Buddhist literature. This work gives an innovative approach to the subject which puts forward a distinctly Buddhist environmental ethics that is in harmony with traditional teachings as well as adaptable and flexible in addressing environmental problems.</p>