In a world where war is common, violence can start to seem kind of acceptable…as long as it's against the baddies. After all, many people would fight to defend themselves or get revenge—which they might consider to be justice.
Gandhi fully rejects this approach in The Story of My Experiments with Truth. But his philosophy of non-violence, or ahimsa, means more than simply refraining from striking your opponents. It means seeking to do them good. Some seriously inspiring quotes are headed your way—after all, some of these gems inspired Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Questions About Philosophical Viewpoints: Non-violence
- What does ahimsa mean? Go beyond its simple definition and ask yourself what Gandhi thinks non-violence implies about our attitudes toward other people, other forms of life, and ourselves.
- Why does Gandhi think movements should be non-violent? What arguments does he make in favor of this position, and what arguments might there be against it?
- Pick a story, such as Return of the Jedi, that involves the use of non-violence in an attempt to convert an opponent to good. How does the story show that non-violence is superior to violence? Is the story realistic? In other words, would a real-life confrontation have the same results?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Non-violence is the only acceptable approach for activists to take.
Militancy on the part of activists is acceptable.