Self-Love in Religious Altruism: A Dialogical Comparison between Thomas Aquinas and Śāntideva
Abstract
abstract: The theme of altruism is a central concern in Christian and Buddhist ethics. As far as religious altruism is concerned, a devotion to selflessness constitutes the most significant similarity between the two religions. The role of self-love in Christian and Buddhist articulations of altruism, on the other hand, remains an understudied issue. This article capitalizes on this research gap to rethink religious altruism. Offering a dialogical comparison between Thomas Aquinas and Śāntideva, this article argues that self-love is an essential aspect in understanding religious altruism.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Study and Philosophy of Religion
Indian and Buddhist Studies
Medieval Philosophy and Theology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Buddhist-Christian Studies
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 319–335
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN