Dharma and Violence Philosophical, Ethical and Historical Perspectives

Abstract

The article discusses the intricate connection between dharma, which can be translated as moral responsibility, cosmic order, and morality, and the concept of violence in philosophical and theological traditions, especially in the Indian setting. The association of dharma with non-violence (ahimsa) is common, but the classical writings and the actions of history suggest a more nuanced understanding, in which violence is conditionally justified. The study covers the main sources, such as epic literature, legal writings and philosophical discourse, to examine how violence can be presented as a duty when it is in the service of justice, maintenance of social order or the defence of truth. The study identifies the ethical contradictions between purpose, action and result, and contends that dharma does not offer a fixed moral code but a contextual framework that demands discernment. The paper ends with a call for a reassessment of simplistic binaries of violence and non-violence and argues that dharma embraces moral diversity in human behaviour.