Retributive karma and the problem of blaming the victim

International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 74 (2):149-165 (2013)
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Abstract

A defining feature of retributive conceptions of karma is their regarding of suffering or misfortune as consequent upon sins committed in previous lives. Some critical non-believers in karma take offence at this view, considering it to involve unjustly blaming the victim. Defenders of the view demur, and argue that a belief in retributive karma in fact provides a motivation for benevolent action. This article elucidates the debate, showing that its depth is such that it is best characterized as a disagreement in form of life (in Wittgenstein’s sense) rather than as a disagreement in opinions. Also briefly discussed is an example of a non-retributive form that belief in karma and reincarnation can take.

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Citations of this work

Revisiting the rationality of reincarnation talk.Ankur Barua - 2015 - International Journal of Philosophy and Theology 76 (3):218-231.
Karma, Morality, and Evil.Mikel Burley - 2014 - Philosophy Compass 9 (6):415-430.

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