Christopher G. Framarin - Desire and Motivation in Indian Philosophy

Desireless action is typically cited as a criterion of the liberated person in classical Indian texts. Contemporary authors argue with near unanimity that since all action is motivated by desire, desireless action is a contradiction. They conclude that desireless action is action performed without certain desires; other desires are permissible.

In this book, the author surveys the contemporary literature on desireless action and argues that the arguments for the standard interpretation are unconvincing. He translates, interprets, and evaluates passages from a number of seminal classical Sanskrit texts, and argues that the doctrine of desireless action should indeed be taken literally, as the advice to act without any desire at all. The author argues that the theories of motivation advanced in these texts are not only consistent, but plausible.

This book is the first in-depth analysis of the doctrine of desireless action in Indian philosophy. It serves as a reference to both contemporary and classical literature on the topic.

Christopher G.Framarin is Assistant Professor in the Departments of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, Canada. His areas of research are Indian philosophy, philosophy of religion, and ethics.

Desire and Motivation in Indian Philosophy

Christopher G.Framarin

First published 2009
by Routledge
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2009 Christopher G.Framarin

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Framarin, Christopher G.
Desire and Motivation in Indian Philosophy / Christopher G.Framarin
p. cm.(Routledge Hindu studies series; 12)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Desire (Philosophy) 2. Philosophy, Hindu. 3. DesireReligious aspectsHinduism. 4. Motivation (Psychology)Religious aspectsHinduism. 5. HinduismDoctrines. 6. BhagavadgitaCriticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.
B132.D48F73 2009
170.954dc22
2008036785

ISBN 0-203-88367-5 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN10: 0-415-46194-4 (hbk)
ISBN10: 0-203-88367-5 (ebk)

ISBN13: 978-0-415-46194-8 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-203-88367-9 (ebk)

Dedicated to Jennifer

As soon as the will begins to cast a covetous eye on the outcome, the individual begins to become immoral.

Sren Keirkegaard
(Kierkegaard 1992:35)