Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the themes of peace and human rights in the writings of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, with a primary focus on their foundations in his religious-philosophical system, the "Religion of the Spirit." Chapter one provides an introduction to the dissertation. Chapter two attempts to place both Radhakrishnan and his Religion of the Spirit within the context of twentieth century Indian thought as a whole. ;Chapter three examines Radhakrishnan's teachings on personhood and society, and outlines the way in which these teachings have their religious foundations in his reconstructed Vedanta. Radhakrishnan's unique understanding of certain key Indian religious concepts are of particular importance in this chapter. His reinterpretation of karma and maya creates an environment in which free choice is a reality and moral decisions have a real and enduring significance. His understanding of the concept of the atman, that it gives significance to individual life rather than removing it, provides a rationale for according basic rights to others. His reinterpretation of samsara and his concept of Brahmaloka, provide a correlate rationale for human responsibility for the well-being of all humanity. ;Chapter four deals with Radhakrishnan's thesis that peace is dependent upon the ability to transcend religious differences. The problem in the struggle for world unity, according to Radhakrishnan, is nationalism, and specifically the religious "particularities" which feed it. Radhakrishnan structures his approach to the issue of peace around the idea of removing this obstacle. He seeks to deal with the problem of religious particularities by proposing the essential unity of all religions, and to demonstrate this unity by emphasizing the universal nature of religious experience. Radhakrishnan then seeks to make his thesis theologically acceptable with his interpretation of the relationship between God and the Absolute. ;Chapter five attempts to isolate the ethical principles and ideals which may be developed from the religious foundations of Radhakrishnan's concerns for peace and human rights. Chapter five also attempts to utilize Radhakrishnan's teachings to suggest the possible foundations for a theory of human rights from within the perspectives and perceptions of Vedanta