Self-Defense in Asian Religions

Liberty Law Review, Vol. 2, p. 79, 2007

86 Pages Posted: 17 Oct 2007

See all articles by David B. Kopel

David B. Kopel

Independence Institute; Denver University - Sturm College of Law; Cato Institute

Abstract

This Article investigates the attitudes of six Far Eastern religions - Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism - towards the legitimacy of the use of force in individual and collective contexts. Self-defense is strongly legitimated in the theory and practice of the major Far Eastern religions. The finding is consistent with natural law theory that some aspects of the human personality, including the self-defense instinct, are inherent in human nature, rather than being entirely determined by culture.

Keywords: Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, self-defense, self-defence, natural law

JEL Classification: K33,K40

Suggested Citation

Kopel, David B. and Kopel, David B., Self-Defense in Asian Religions. Liberty Law Review, Vol. 2, p. 79, 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1022045

David B. Kopel (Contact Author)

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