Jaina Ethics and Contemporary Society: The Relevance of Ahimsa and Anekantavada

One of the major philosophical traditions in India is Jainism.As a humanitarian and compassionate philosophy, Jainism has the potential to attract universal appeal.The contribution of Jains to the Indian socio-cultural value system has been subtle and diffuse, yet quite significant.Jainism provides its followers with a worldview and a way of life that embodies self-reliance, social equality, intergroup tolerance, non-violence and limiting one's desires and needs.Ahimsa (non-violence) and Anekantavada (the doctrine of many-sided reality) form the ethical core of Jain philosophy.Traditionally rooted in spiritual discipline and self-restraint, these principles also carry deep moral significance for social life.In society, the ethical concept of Ahimsa and the metaphysical doctrine Anekantavada in Jain philosophy have major relevance to contemporary society.This paper discusses the Jain concepts of Ahimsa and Anekantavada.This paper first examines the classical understanding of these concepts in Jain philosophy, highlighting their metaphysical and moral foundations.It then examines their ethical contributions to contemporary issues such as violence, intolerance, environmental degradation, and ideological polarisation by promoting non-harm, ethical restraint, and respect for plural perspectives.