Project Archive: Gandhi's Philosophy of Nonviolence: Essential Selections

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Gandhi’s Philosophy of Nonviolence: Essential Selections

Subject: Philosophy & Ethics

Book Language: English

Audience: 100-level survey course/undergraduate

Created date: July 11, 2022

Updated date: July 18, 2022

Target Release Date: 2023-01-31

License:

  • Attribution

Needs:

  • Project Managers
  • Formatters
  • Ancillaries Contributors

Short Description:

A concise open textbook intended for an undergraduate audience, which brings together essential selections from Gandhi on nonviolence. The book will also include a range of supplementary material: an introduction

boxes and sidebars providing examples, historical notes, extended explanations, and related philosophical material

an appendix on post-Gandhian nonviolence

a concluding essay on the moral limits of Gandhian nonviolence, which doubles as a model essay for undergraduate students

diagrams and images

discussion questions

reading and viewing suggestions

a nonviolence timeline

a glossary

Outline

Preface

Box - King Explains Gandhi’s Influence

Box - Sorabji on Gandhi as a Philosopher

Chapter 1. Gandhi’s Concept of Nonviolence: Satyagraha

Box - Thoreau on Civil Disobedience

Chapter 2. The Goal of Satyagraha: Truth

Box - The Jain Doctrine of Anekantavada

Box - Philosopher Barry Gan Illustrates the Role of Truth in Satyagraha

Chapter 3. The Means of Satyagraha: Ahimsa

Box - Tolstoy & the “Sermon on the Mount”

Chapter 4. How to View an Opponent

Box - Philosopher Robert L. Holmes on Understanding Evil

Chapter 5. The Key to Changing Hearts: The Law of Suffering

Box - The Principle of Morally Weighted Choice & “Jiu-Jitsu”

Chapter 6. The Source of Truth Strength: An Indomitable Will

Box - Greek Philosophical Influence on Gandhi

Chapter 7. Coordinated Peacekeeping: A Nonviolent Army

Box - The Nonviolent Peaceforce

Chapter 8. Building a Nonviolent Society: From Obstructive to Constructive Program

Chapter 9. An Objection and a Reply: The Relationship between Means & Ends

Box - Gandhi Receives an Objection from a Reader

Box - Reaping as We Sow: Gandhi’s Watch Example

Box - Means & Ends: The Wider Debate

Chapter 10. Lessons from a “Himalayan Miscalculation”: Preparation, Free Will, and Swadharma

Chapter 11. A Reason for Optimism: The Law of Love

Chapter 12. The State of the Technique & Its Future: An Experiment

Appendix: Post-Gandhian Developments

Concluding Essay: The Moral Bounds of the Nonviolence Continuum

Participants