The Early Buddhist Tradition and Ecological Ethics

The article begins by situating the ecological crisis as a contemporary ethical challenge and asks whether early Buddhism contains, supports, or can integrate an ecological ethic. Schmithausen first surveys conflicting modern views, including ecological interpretations based on universal interdependence and opposing readings that see early Buddhism as world-transcending rather than nature-affirming. He then analyzes the early Buddhist evaluation of existence, arguing that nature is not ultimately valued in itself because all conditioned phenomena are impermanent and unsatisfactory. The discussion moves to dependent origination, where the author questions whether it can serve as a direct foundation for ecological ethics without substantial reinterpretation. The article then examines early Buddhist spirituality and ethics, especially non-violence, loving-kindness, compassion, moderation, mindfulness, and detachment, showing that these practices can support ecological responsibility even though their original focus is spiritual purification and the welfare of sentient beings. Later sections compare Buddhist views of nature and civilization, including both pro-civilization ideals and the ascetic appreciation of wilderness as a place of solitude, meditation, and liberation. The article also discusses the status of animals and the limits of early Buddhist concern for plants, species, and ecosystems. Overall, Schmithausen proposes that a modern Buddhist ecological ethic is possible, but it requires careful extension of early Buddhist principles rather than a simplistic claim that environmentalism was already fully present in the ancient tradition.