RELG 3416
Sustainability and Asceticism
Course Description
Disciplines
Cultures & Societies of the World, Artistic, Interpretive, & Philosophical Inquiry
To what extent does the pursuit of sustainability require restraining or retraining our desires? How can people be encouraged to consume less, or in less destructive ways, when cultures of consumption prove resistant to change? This seminar will explore these questions from the perspective of South Asian traditions (Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain). We will consider classical sources as well as contemporary debates about sustainable development.