Duty and Sacrifice: A Logical Analysis of the Mīmāṃsā Theory of Vedic Injunctions

Elisa Freschi, Andrew Ollett, Matteo Pascucci*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

The Mīmāṃsā school of Indian philosophy has for its main purpose the interpretation of injunctions that are found in a set of sacred texts, the Vedas. In their works, Mīmāṃsā authors provide some of the most detailed and systematic examinations available anywhere of statements with a deontic force; however, their considerations have generally not been registered outside of Indological scholarship. In the present article we analyze the Mīmāṃsā theory of Vedic injunctions from a logical and philosophical point of view. The theory at issue can be regarded as a system of reasoning based on certain fundamental principles, such as the distinction between strong and weak duties, and on a taxonomy of ritual actions. We start by reconstructing the conceptual framework of the theory and then move to a formalization of its core aspects. Our contribution represents a new perspective to study Mīmāṃsā and outlines its relevance, in general, for deontic reasoning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)323-354
Number of pages32
JournalHistory and Philosophy of Logic
Volume40
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Oct 2019
Externally publishedYes

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