Buddhism and Law by Miguel Álvarez Ortega
European Journal of Privacy Law and Technologies, 2024
The article presents an analysis of Buddhist normative discourses on animal protection and enviro... more The article presents an analysis of Buddhist normative discourses on animal protection and environmentalism. Following a general introduction to Buddhism and its main normative strands, it examines the treatment of animals and nature in traditional sources and compares it with the environmentalism developed by various traditional and modern scholars. The example of Bhutan is then analyzed as a virtuous case of a regime that integrates Buddhism at a constitutional level. Finally, the article explores the variety, dynamism, and complexity of Buddhist discourses on animals, nature, and environmentalism. L'articolo presenta un'analisi dei discorsi normativi buddhisti inerenti alla protezione degli animali e all'ambientalismo. Dopo un'introduzione generale al buddhismo e ai suoi principali filoni normativi, si approfondisce il discorso del trattamento degli animali e della natura nelle fonti tradizionali e lo si confronta con quello dell'ambientalismo sviluppato da vari studiosi tradizionali e moderni. Si analizza poi l'esempio del Bhutan, quale esempio virtuoso di regime che integra il buddhismo a livello costituzionale e, in ultimo, si indaga sulla varietà, dinamicità e complessità dei discorsi buddhisti sugli animali, sulla natura e sull'ambientalismo.
Traditional Neighbors, Different ModernitiesBhutan, Sikkim and the Mon Region, 2024
The focus is put on the ideological narratives concerning the medieval and pre-modern legal past ... more The focus is put on the ideological narratives concerning the medieval and pre-modern legal past contemporarily developed by institutional bodies, and native scholarship and higher education. It is, therefore, not intended as a study of legal historyitself but of the self-(re)presentation of the medieval and pre-modern legal past within the public spheres of these political entities. In what follows, I shall lay out a brief summary of the scholarly research on the legal past as an introductory background for the discourses of the branches of government, local intellectuals, universities and other higher education institutions. The study of each country is thus first presented separately, inviting one to question and ponder common prima facie assumptions, namely the identification of a narrative of disruption with the legal past in the case of Sikkim and one of continuity in the case of Bhutan. The final goal, addressed in the concluding section, is to compare and try to understand the discourses of these two countries as strategical answers to contemporary challenges related to nation-building and legal efficacy in a globalized context. In this regard, considering the assumed ‘odious’ character of comparative enterprises6 and the understandable suspicion raised by a foreign perspective, it is probably appropriate to clarify that this study prefers a descriptive or explicative approach, excluding any prescriptive or evaluative pretensions on the self-representations of each country considered both individually and comparatively.
Journal of Buddhist Ethics, 2023
Digital copies of this work may be made and distributed provided no change is made and no alterat... more Digital copies of this work may be made and distributed provided no change is made and no alteration is made to the content. Reproduction in any other format, with the exception of a single copy for private study, requires the written permission of the author.
Religious Fundamentalism in the Age of Pandemic; Nina Käsehage (ed.)., 2021
This paper aims at analyzing how the Covid-19 (2020) crisis has been treated by
leading Tibetan t... more This paper aims at analyzing how the Covid-19 (2020) crisis has been treated by
leading Tibetan teachers in the global media. First, an introduction to Buddhist
notions related to sickness both at the individual and collective levels is provided,
followed by a detailed account of the public pronouncements up to early August
2020 of the leading teachers of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The paper
tries to show how Tibetan Buddhists’ response is characterized by an appeal to an
external compliance with the authorities, and an internal plural interpretation that
reflects a common tension between a symbolic and a transcendental construal of
religious categories. It also attempts to provide interpretative keys for the lack of a
successful fundamentalist or millennialist reaction while pointing to the particular
suitability of Buddhism to accommodate to the crisis.
Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines, 2019
The monastery is in Nyalam county, Shigatse Prefecture. For a historical and contemporary geograp... more The monastery is in Nyalam county, Shigatse Prefecture. For a historical and contemporary geographical description, see addresses the current situation of this pastoralist enclave. 14 Diemberger et al. 1997b, 88.
Buddhism, Law, and Society , 2018
This paper addresses how “traditional” Buddhist scholars envision relationships with legal and so... more This paper addresses how “traditional” Buddhist scholars envision relationships with legal and socio-political issues both at a theoretical
and a socio-historical level according to their own education, and experience. To approach this topic, semi-structured interviews were carried out
with a series of scholars pertaining to the different schools of Tibetan
Buddhism based in the community of Boudhanath (Nepal), home to
numerous exiled Tibetans. Interviews covered four sections dealing with:
references and theoretical approaches to law and politics in canonical
literature; attitudes vis-a-vis the Western paradigm on justice; law and
politics in Buddhist countries; and social activism and ethics. Data analysis
points towards an understudied interest in normative issues and a complex
diversity of discourses and approaches that challenge common
assumptions.
Abstract. The aim of this paper is to present legal scholars with major notions and features pert... more Abstract. The aim of this paper is to present legal scholars with major notions and features pertaining to a non-Western philosophical tradition such as Buddhism, which possesses its own normative vision that expresses itself in different models, patterns and exigencies according
to the capacity, spiritual goals, context and position of the agents. This results in a varied array of role-based regulations: it is this area that is explored in this paper through an analysis of the cases of the householder, the monks and the monarch, thus enabling a reflection upon social structure, legal idiosyncrasy and the functioning of the ruling power.
Keywords: Buddhist Law, Buddhist Social Regulation, Buddhist Monastic Codes, Buddhist Model Monarch, Coercion and Violence.
Ius et Scientia , 2017
JAPAN RESUMEN: En el panorama filosófico-normativo, la apertura a tradiciones no occidentales no ... more JAPAN RESUMEN: En el panorama filosófico-normativo, la apertura a tradiciones no occidentales no sólo se desenvuelve a nivel sistémico, sino que comienza a desarrollarse igualmente con respecto a problemas de razón práctica. Este trabajo trata una cuestión tan controvertida como la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo desde el pensamiento buddhista. Se presenta un marco conceptual canónico; se describen los principales desarrollos filosóficos contemporáneos y se muestran diversos ejemplos jurídico-sociales incidiendo especialmente en el caso japonés. De la panorámica expuesta se resalta la apuesta por la consideración: del aborto como una transgresión normativa que casuísticamente puede tolerarse como mal necesario; del no nacido como objeto de protección (también espiritual) y de la madre como agente merecedor de asesoramiento, atención y cuidado especiales. ABSTRACT: Within the current philosophical-normative panorama, the opening to non-Western traditions not only develops at a systemic level, but it also begins to address problems of practical reason. This work deals with a question as controversial as the voluntary interruption of pregnancy from the perspective of Buddhist thought. A canonical conceptual framework is presented; the main contemporary philosophical developments are described and several legal-social examples are shown, focusing especially on the Japanese case. All in all, emphasis is placed on the consideration of: abortion as a normative transgression that can casuistically be tolerated as a necessary evil; the unborn as an object of protection (also spiritually) and the mother as an agent worthy of special advice, attention and care. Palabras clave: Aborto; bioética; pensamiento buddhista; Japón.
Legal Theory and Philosophy by Miguel Álvarez Ortega
Derechos y libertades: Revista del Instituto …, Jan 1, 2011
Resumen: Es objetivo del presente artículo el tratamiento del debate filosófico norteamericano en... more Resumen: Es objetivo del presente artículo el tratamiento del debate filosófico norteamericano en torno al uso de la argumentación religiosa en el espacio público. Se propone una evaluación de la posiciones nucleares de este debate tomando en consideración la jurisprudencia constitucional y el desarrollo doctrinal con base en la public reason rawlsiana. La llamada neutralidad liberal, las pretensiones de establecer una equivalencia epistemológica entre argumentos religiosos y seculares y la apuesta por garantizar la estabilidad institucional a través del reconocimiento religioso, son consideradas las principales claves interpretativas desde la que enjuiciar con solvencia las posiciones contemporáneas sobre este controvertido tema.
Claves para una estrategia andaluza de …, Jan 1, 2011
RESUMEN. El propósito de este trabajo es describir el acercamiento de Garzón Valdés a la regla ha... more RESUMEN. El propósito de este trabajo es describir el acercamiento de Garzón Valdés a la regla hartiana de reconocimiento. Siendo uno de los primeros estudiosos en acercarse a los trabajos de Hart, el posicionamiento de Garzón no puede considerarse aislado ni estático. Existe una continua referencia a las tesis hartianas en la producción iusteórica de Garzón (especialmente una vez que se abandona la influencia de Kelsen en los setenta) que supone una revalorización progresiva. Trataré de mostrar en qué medida los trabajos de Garzón son un ejemplo de que resulta más útil para la Teoría del Derecho reinterpretar los instrumentos de Hart desde la conexión Derecho-Moral que descartarlos por completo.
Una Constitución para la Ciudadanía de …, Jan 1, 2004
La Filosofía del derecho de Ernesto Garzón Valdés
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Buddhism and Law by Miguel Álvarez Ortega
leading Tibetan teachers in the global media. First, an introduction to Buddhist
notions related to sickness both at the individual and collective levels is provided,
followed by a detailed account of the public pronouncements up to early August
2020 of the leading teachers of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The paper
tries to show how Tibetan Buddhists’ response is characterized by an appeal to an
external compliance with the authorities, and an internal plural interpretation that
reflects a common tension between a symbolic and a transcendental construal of
religious categories. It also attempts to provide interpretative keys for the lack of a
successful fundamentalist or millennialist reaction while pointing to the particular
suitability of Buddhism to accommodate to the crisis.
and a socio-historical level according to their own education, and experience. To approach this topic, semi-structured interviews were carried out
with a series of scholars pertaining to the different schools of Tibetan
Buddhism based in the community of Boudhanath (Nepal), home to
numerous exiled Tibetans. Interviews covered four sections dealing with:
references and theoretical approaches to law and politics in canonical
literature; attitudes vis-a-vis the Western paradigm on justice; law and
politics in Buddhist countries; and social activism and ethics. Data analysis
points towards an understudied interest in normative issues and a complex
diversity of discourses and approaches that challenge common
assumptions.
to the capacity, spiritual goals, context and position of the agents. This results in a varied array of role-based regulations: it is this area that is explored in this paper through an analysis of the cases of the householder, the monks and the monarch, thus enabling a reflection upon social structure, legal idiosyncrasy and the functioning of the ruling power.
Keywords: Buddhist Law, Buddhist Social Regulation, Buddhist Monastic Codes, Buddhist Model Monarch, Coercion and Violence.
Legal Theory and Philosophy by Miguel Álvarez Ortega
leading Tibetan teachers in the global media. First, an introduction to Buddhist
notions related to sickness both at the individual and collective levels is provided,
followed by a detailed account of the public pronouncements up to early August
2020 of the leading teachers of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The paper
tries to show how Tibetan Buddhists’ response is characterized by an appeal to an
external compliance with the authorities, and an internal plural interpretation that
reflects a common tension between a symbolic and a transcendental construal of
religious categories. It also attempts to provide interpretative keys for the lack of a
successful fundamentalist or millennialist reaction while pointing to the particular
suitability of Buddhism to accommodate to the crisis.
and a socio-historical level according to their own education, and experience. To approach this topic, semi-structured interviews were carried out
with a series of scholars pertaining to the different schools of Tibetan
Buddhism based in the community of Boudhanath (Nepal), home to
numerous exiled Tibetans. Interviews covered four sections dealing with:
references and theoretical approaches to law and politics in canonical
literature; attitudes vis-a-vis the Western paradigm on justice; law and
politics in Buddhist countries; and social activism and ethics. Data analysis
points towards an understudied interest in normative issues and a complex
diversity of discourses and approaches that challenge common
assumptions.
to the capacity, spiritual goals, context and position of the agents. This results in a varied array of role-based regulations: it is this area that is explored in this paper through an analysis of the cases of the householder, the monks and the monarch, thus enabling a reflection upon social structure, legal idiosyncrasy and the functioning of the ruling power.
Keywords: Buddhist Law, Buddhist Social Regulation, Buddhist Monastic Codes, Buddhist Model Monarch, Coercion and Violence.
Keywords
Language rights; Language in education; Lionel Wee; multiculturalism; deliberative democracy
Palabras clave: Modelo lingüístico catalán; lenguas vehiculares; nacionalismo; justicia lingüística.
Abstract: This paper aims at providing an explanation of the recurrence of demands concerning Spanish as an instruction language in Catalonian public schools. For that purpose, a detailed analysis of the constitutional and legal regime of the model is undertaken and the conceptual frame is thoroughly examined. An assessment based upon major linguistic justice models is also provided. The thesis defended here states that constitutional case-law shows to be ambiguous, contradictory and unjustifiably exceptional regarding the Catalonian model, whose conceptual groundings serve the cause of an essentialised and excluding nationalism. Multicultural models are either deemed inapplicable or leading to a major change, while liberal models would question a proper democratic articulation. The result entails a threat for the stability of the legal-political system.
Key words: Catalonian linguistic model; language of instruction; nationalism; linguistic justice.