Political Theory in Canonical Buddhism

@article{Moore2015PoliticalTI,
  title={Political Theory in Canonical Buddhism},
  author={Matthew J. Moore},
  journal={Philosophy East and West},
  year={2015},
  volume={65},
  pages={36 - 64}
}
  • M. Moore
  • Published 2 February 2015
  • Art
  • Philosophy East and West
This article examines the canonical texts of early Buddhism and canvasses recent scholarly literature to explore whether early Buddhism contains a political theory, and if so, what it is. The article concludes that the early texts do express a normative preference for enlightened monarchy as the best form of lay government. However, it also concludes that early Buddhism saw politics as being relatively unimportant among human concerns. Further, it argues that this theory of politics should be… 
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