How do the core Jain values of ahiṃsā (nonharming), aparigraha (nonpossessiveness), and anekāntavāda (non-one-sidedness) relate to the ethics and practices of animal protection and advocacy? Jains have insisted on the practice of vegetarianism for millennia, but what else might a proactive “Engaged Jainism”' involve? Is vegetarianism sufficient on the dietary level? Is veganism sufficient? Why or why not?

 

Part One of the course explores sites of institutionalized and corporate hiṃsā (harm) towards animals, focusing specifically on industrialized animal agriculture. The purpose of this—at times vivid—investigation is to begin to comprehend just how harmful these anthropogenic phenomena are for both the animals and humans contained therein. Part Two pivots to how Jainism—past, present, and future—interfaces with these phenomena. The focus will be on the Jain ethic of nonharming, how it determines dietary practices, but also specifically how it might motivate an “Engaged Jainism” that extends well beyond what one does and doesn’t eat. Part Three looks into past and contemporary animal advocacy movements and social justice activism more broadly understood. This part will look at the diversity of principles, targets, and tactics employed by these various movements. Specifically we will explore how these movements invoke nonviolence as the guiding force behind their educational, legal, political, entrepreneurial, and grassroots activist efforts to address the plights of animals. 

 

Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to:

Instructor

Jonathan Dickstein, PhD

Reviews