Buddhism and Political Theory

Matthew J. Moore

Analyzes Buddhist political thought from the earliest texts to the present
Focuses on Buddhist political ideas and their connections with Western political thought
Offers the first comprehensive treatment of Buddhism as political theory

Buddhism and Political Theory

Matthew J. Moore

Description

Despite the recent upsurge of interest in comparative political theory, there has been virtually no serious examination of Buddhism by political philosophers in the past five decades. In part, this is because Buddhism is not typically seen as a school of political thought.

However, as Matthew Moore argues, Buddhism simultaneously parallels and challenges many core assumptions and arguments in contemporary Western political theory. In brief, Western thinkers not only have a great deal to learn about Buddhism, they have a great deal to learn from it. To both incite and facilitate the process of Western theorists engaging with this neglected tradition, this book provides a detailed, critical reading of the key primary Buddhist texts, from the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha through the present day. It also discusses the relevant secondary literature on Buddhism and political theory (nearly all of it from disciplines other than political theory), as well as the literatures on particular issues addressed in the argument.

Moore argues that Buddhist political thought rests on three core premises--that there is no self, that politics is of very limited importance in human life, and that normative beliefs and judgments represent practical advice about how to live a certain way, rather than being obligatory commands about how all persons must act. He compares Buddhist political theory to what he sees as Western analogues--Nietzsche's similar but crucially different theory of the self, Western theories of limited citizenship from Epicurus to John Howard Yoder, and to the Western tradition of immanence theories in ethics. This will be the first comprehensive treatment of Buddhism as political theory.

Buddhism and Political Theory

Matthew J. Moore

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Buddhism and Political Thought

Part I: Buddhism's Theory of Government

Chapter 1: Theory of Government and Political Theory in Early Buddhism

Chapter 2: The Traditional Buddhist Theory of Government

Chapter 3: Buddhist Modernism: 1850-1950

Part II: A Buddhist Political Theory

Chapter 4: Overcoming vs. Letting Go: Nietzsche and Buddha on the Self and Politics

Chapter 5: Theories of Limited Citizenship, East and West

Chapter 6: Buddhism, Naturalistic Ethics, and Politics

Chapter 7: Buddhist Political Theory in the Twenty-first Century

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Buddhism and Political Theory

Matthew J. Moore

Author Information

Matthew J. Moore is Associate Professor of Political Science at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Buddhism and Political Theory

Matthew J. Moore

Reviews and Awards

"Matthew Moore's Buddhism and Political Theory is a fascinating work that unveils what Buddhism has to offer on statecraft, which has been mainly neglected by western social scientists." -- Punsara Amarasinghe, Global Legal Studies Center at University of Wisconsin, Religious Studies Review

"Moore breaks new ground in two academic disciplines: Buddhist studies and political science, particularly in the area of political theory. Moore initiates a much-needed critical conversation between Buddhist and Western thinkers about the nature of the self, ethics, and the value of political engagement. In this way, this book breaks new ground in political theory particularly and Buddhist studies in general. Summing up: Essential." --P. O. Ingram, Pacific Lutheran University (Emeritus)

"What do the ancient teachings of Buddhism have to do with politics and political theory in the twenty-first century? In this lucid and inspiring text Matthew Moore illuminates entanglements between images of the self, the ontological dimension of life, an invitational ethos, and an enlightened perspective on politics. Moving back and forth between classic teachings and contemporary theorists, Moore makes an indispensable contribution to political thought." --William E. Connolly, author of "The Fragility of Things: Self-Organizing Processes, Neoliberal Fantasies, and Democratic Activism"

"A fascinating and long-overdue contribution to political theory. Moore effectively reminds us that Buddhist thought is valuable as a rich tradition in its own right, but also that it is an important and challenging conversation partner for Western political thinking. Western thinkers, he argues, have a great deal to learn not simply about Buddhist political thought, but also from Buddhist political thought. This book promises to further expand our ever-contested definition of what constitutes political theory, while offering a roadmap for those interested in engaging with this important tradition." --Farah Godrej, author of "Cosmopolitan Political Thought: Method, Practice, Discipline"

"Matthew Moore's Buddhism and Political Theory is a ground-breaking contribution to the growing literature on comparative political thought that situates Buddhism centrally in scholarly debates long dominated by Western traditions. The book introduces unfamiliar readers to Buddhism and the history of Buddhist theories of government, from the earliest accounts of Buddha's teachings to 20th century practices, and from Burma to Thailand to the Tibetan government in exile. This platform allows Moore to inaugurate a critical conversation between Buddhism and Western thinkers about the nature of the self, ethics, and the value of political action that opens up a rich terrain for political theorists to explore." --Michaele L. Ferguson, author of 'Sharing Democracy'