POLITICAL PRAGMATISM AND ETHICS IN KAUTYLA’S ARTHASHASTRA: CONTRADICTION OR COMPLEMENTARITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21814/eps.2.1.87Keywords:
political pragmatism, morality, means, ends, ArthashastraAbstract
Is there always an inherent contradiction between political pragmatism and ethics? This paper explores this through the classical Indian realist political treatise, the Arthashastra, written by Kautilya. He was the key advisor to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya (c. 317-293 B.C.E), credited with first consolidating the Indian subcontinent into an empire under centralized control. Kautilya is widely agreed to be a pioneer in developing a ‘science of politics’- a great departure from the hitherto existing moralistic, spiritual, ascetic preoccupations and, religious speculations of Indian political philosophy. Kautilya blurred the distinction between morality and political utility. Much of political theory tradition remains oblivious to Kautilya’s contribution to morality in realpolitik and his continuing influence in non-Western societies. His treatise is a significant point of entry into exploring the dilemmas attached to active pursuance of ethical goals while also balancing the imperatives underpinning political pragmatism- a concern which has carried on to this day.
References
Ali, S. (2006). Kautilya and the Concept of Good. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 67(2), 375-380.
Boesche, R. (2003). Kautilya's Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India. The Journal of Military History, 67(1): 9-37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jmh.2003.0006
Chakrabarty, D. (2007). Provincializing Europe. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Chousalkar, A. (1981). Political Philosophy of Arthashastra Tradition. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 42(1): 54-66.
Kautilya (1992). The Arthashastra: Part II of The Kautilya Arthashastra (R.P. Kangle, Ed. and Trans.). Delhi: Motilal Banardisass, 1992.
Kosambi, D. D. (1994). The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House.
Krishna Rao, M. V. (1958). Studies in Kautilya. New Delhi: Munshi Ram Manohar Lal.
Mercer, M. D. (1993). On a Pragmatic Argument against Pragmatism in Ethics. American Philosophical Quarterly, 30(2): 163-173.
Palmer, N. D. (1955). Indian and Western Political Thought: Coalescence or Clash? The American Political Science Review, 49(3): 747-761. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1951436
Prasad, D. (1978). Politics and Ethics in Kautilya’s. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 39(2): 240-249.
Singh, G. P. (1993). Political Thought in Ancient India. New Delhi: D.K. Printworld.
Verma, V. P. (1959). Hindu Political Thought and Its Metaphysical Foundation. (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas.
Zimmer, H. (1967). Philosophies of India. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press
