ReviewsThis excellent study exemplifies both skillful scholarship and the author's depth of experience with the Gauiya Vaiava tradition. It thoroughly refutes the outmoded notion that practitioners within a tradition cannot view it from a sufficiently critical stance to do serious, rigorous reflection on its ideas. With this work, Cogen Bohanec advances our understanding of the Gauiya Vaiava worldview., "In Bhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gau?iya Vai??ava Metaethics , Cogen Bohanec offers an intriguing exploration into the rich philosophical, ethical and theological tapestry of Gau?iya Vai??avism. Through meticulous research and a clear passion for the subject, Bohanec unpacks the profound ethical implications of bhakti--devotional love towards the divine--as the foundation for ethical living and spiritual enlightenment. His ground-breaking work illuminates the intricate relationship between emotional states and ethical behavior, arguing convincingly that love, in its purest form, is both the means and the end of ethical transformation. Bohanec's scholarship stands out for its depth and clarity, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary ethical thought. By examining the role of emotions in the development of moral character within the Gau?iya Vai??ava framework, he not only enriches our understanding of this spiritual tradition but also contributes significantly to the broader field of religious ethics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, ethics, and the transformative power of love. It challenges readers to rethink the foundations of ethical living through the lens of bhakti, offering a path towards a love-based ethic." --Gopal Gupta, Aurora University "This excellent study exemplifies both skillful scholarship and the author's depth of experience with the Gau?iya Vai??ava tradition. It thoroughly refutes the outmoded notion that practitioners within a tradition cannot view it from a sufficiently critical stance to do serious, rigorous reflection on its ideas. With this work, Cogen Bohanec advances our understanding of the Gau?iya Vai??ava worldview." --Jeffery D. Long, Elizabethtown College, In Bhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gauiya Vaiava Metaethics , Cogen Bohanec offers an intriguing exploration into the rich philosophical, ethical and theological tapestry of Gauiya Vaiavism. Through meticulous research and a clear passion for the subject, Bohanec unpacks the profound ethical implications of bhakti--devotional love towards the divine--as the foundation for ethical living and spiritual enlightenment. His ground-breaking work illuminates the intricate relationship between emotional states and ethical behavior, arguing convincingly that love, in its purest form, is both the means and the end of ethical transformation. Bohanec's scholarship stands out for its depth and clarity, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary ethical thought. By examining the role of emotions in the development of moral character within the Gauiya Vaiava framework, he not only enriches our understanding of this spiritual tradition but also contributes significantly to the broader field of religious ethics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, ethics, and the transformative power of love. It challenges readers to rethink the foundations of ethical living through the lens of bhakti, offering a path towards a love-based ethic., In Bhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gauiya Vaiava Metaethics , Cogen Bohanec offers an intriguing exploration into the rich philosophical, ethical and theological tapestry of Gauiya Vaiavism. Through meticulous research and a clear passion for the subject, Bohanec unpacks the profound ethical implications of bhakti--devotional love towards the divine--as the foundation for ethical living and spiritual enlightenment. His ground-breaking work illuminates the intricate relationship between emotional states and ethical behavior, arguing convincingly that love, in its purest form, is both the means and the end of ethical transformation. Bohanec's scholarship stands out for its depth and clarity, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary ethical thought. By examining the role of emotions in the development of moral character within the Gauiya Vaiava framework, he not only enriches our understanding of this spiritual tradition but also contributes significantly to the broader field of religious ethics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, ethics, and the transformative power of love. It challenges readers to rethink the foundations of ethical living through the lens of bhakti, offering a path towards a love-based ethic. work, he not only enriches our understanding of this spiritual tradition but also contributes significantly to the broader field of religious ethics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, ethics, and the transformative power of love. It challenges readers to rethink the foundations of ethical living through the lens of bhakti, offering a path towards a love-based ethic.work, he not only enriches our understanding of this spiritual tradition but also contributes significantly to the broader field of religious ethics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, ethics, and the transformative power of love. It challenges readers to rethink the foundations of ethical living through the lens of bhakti, offering a path towards a love-based ethic.work, he not only enriches our understanding of this spiritual tradition but also contributes significantly to the broader field of religious ethics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, ethics, and the transformative power of love. It challenges readers to rethink the foundations of ethical living through the lens of bhakti, offering a path towards a love-based ethic.
Table Of ContentAcknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Part I: Gaudiya Vaisnava Ethics Chapter 1: The Problem: Fact, Value, and Burden of Proof Chapter 2: Gaudiya Vaisnava Virtue Ethics Chapter 3: Theological Voluntarism in Gaudiya Vaisnava Theo-ethics Chapter 4: Moral Affect and Ecofeminist Care Ethics Part II: Affective Ethical Realism and The Spiritual Telos Chapter 5: Bhakti as Affective Realism Chapter 6: Emanation, Bifurcated Cosmology, and Affective Realism Chapter 7: Divine Affect and the Relational Dynamics of Grace Chapter 8: Profile of Affective Conditions and Their Development Conclusion Bibliography About the Author
SynopsisBhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gaudiya Vaisnava Metaethics explores the broader implications of understanding bhakti, "devotional love to the divine," as an ethical theory based on a "realist" account of emotions, where emotions are sensory perceptions of the real ethical qualities of classes of actions. The book spotlights one complex articulation of an Indian epistemology and ontology of ethics based on the metaphysics of Gaudiya Vaisnava psychology of emotions in dialogue with a variety of academic fields, including the philosophy of religion and related methodologies such as virtue ethics, theological voluntarism, and ecofeminist and feminist care ethics. The work discusses how emotions are understood metaphysically as extra-mental, objectively real qualities, what Cogen Bohanec refers to as "affective realism." This follows from a cosmogenic model where the universe emanates from the loving relationship between the divine feminine, Radha, and her intense loving relationship with her masculine counterpart, Krishna. Since the origin of all of reality emanates from the ultimacy of an affective relationship, then the fabric of reality can be described as having objectively real affective qualities and that is the basis for grounding this ethical system., Bhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gau?iya Vai??ava Metaethics explores the broader implications of understanding bhakti, "devotional love to the divine," as an ethical theory based on a "realist" account of emotions, where emotions are sensory perceptions of the real ethical qualities of classes of actions. The book spotlights one complex ......, Bhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gau?iya Vai??ava Metaethics explores the broader implications of understanding bhakti, "devotional love to the divine," as an ethical theory based on a "realist" account of emotions, where emotions are sensory perceptions of the real ethical qualities of classes of actions. The book spotlights one complex articulation of an Indian epistemology and ontology of ethics based on the metaphysics of Gau?iya Vai??ava psychology of emotions in dialogue with a variety of academic fields, including the philosophy of religion and related methodologies such as virtue ethics, theological voluntarism, and ecofeminist and feminist care ethics. The work discusses how emotions are understood metaphysically as extra-mental, objectively real qualities, what Cogen Bohanec refers to as "affective realism." This follows from a cosmogenic model where the universe emanates from the loving relationship between the divine feminine, Radha, and her intense loving relationship with her masculine counterpart, K???a. Since the origin of all of reality emanates from the ultimacy of an affective relationship, then the fabric of reality can be described as having objectively real affective qualities and that is the basis for grounding this ethical system., Bhakti Ethics, Emotions, and Love in Gauiya Vaiava Metaethics explores the broader implications of understanding bhakti, "devotional love to the divine," as an ethical theory based on a "realist" account of emotions, where emotions are sensory perceptions of the real ethical qualities of classes of actions. The book spotlights one complex articulation of an Indian epistemology and ontology of ethics based on the metaphysics of Gauiya Vaiava psychology of emotions in dialogue with a variety of academic fields, including the philosophy of religion and related methodologies such as virtue ethics, theological voluntarism, and ecofeminist and feminist care ethics. The work discusses how emotions are understood metaphysically as extra-mental, objectively real qualities, what Cogen Bohanec refers to as "affective realism." This follows from a cosmogenic model where the universe emanates from the loving relationship between the divine feminine, Radha, and her intense loving relationship with her masculine counterpart, Ka. Since the origin of all of reality emanates from the ultimacy of an affective relationship, then the fabric of reality can be described as having objectively real affective qualities and that is the basis for grounding this ethical system.
LC Classification NumberBL1214.32.B53B74