Abstract:
An attempt is made in this thesis to critically examine the Theravada Buddhist concept of Utility (Attha) to find out its standpoint in Comparison and contrast with the Westem concept of Utilitarianism. In this research work, the thesis is divided into 5 chapters, in which the content of the research are explained accordingly :
Chapter 1: It is concemed with the background and significance of study.
Chapter II : It focuses on the contexts of Utilitarianism both in the west such as John Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
Chapter III : It is centered on the Theravada Buddhist concept of Utility as appeared in the Tipitaka and its commentaries including the other Buddhist scholar's view in order to search for the Original meaning of the word Utility in Buddhism.
Chapter IV: The researcher tries to do two kinds of comparison, i.e. The comparison of Utilitarianism between Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill and the comparison between the Western Utilitarianism and the Buddhist concept of Utility. The aim of comparison is to find out whether Buddhism is the same or different from the Western Utilitarianism.
The researcher tries to apply the framework of Buddhist concept of Utility to cope with the ethical problem and to suit the present society.
Chapter V: It serves as a conclusion of this thesis. It concludes all the findings and suggests further researchers in connection with this filed.
In this thesis, the researcher found the core ideas of the Buddhist Utility, which can be summarized as follows:
1. The word "Utility" in Theravada Buddhism, means the state of happiness or that which can enhance the quality of life and signifies the final aim of human life. It can be summed up into 2 kinds : (1) the material utility, which means the property, fame and name, etc., and (2) the mental utility, which means the enlightenment of the Path and Fruition (Magga and Phala) or the levels of mental development.
2. The essence of the Theravada Buddhist principle lies on the utility of all people and its focus is on the utility of oneself at first and when one's own utility is fulfilled, then that can be extended to others in order to fulfill their utility. By this way, the utility of both parties will be fulfilled accordingly.
3. In Theravada Buddhist philosophy, the utility is divided into 6 kinds as follows: (1) utility in this life, (2) utility in the next life, (3) the ultimate utility, i.e. Nibbana, (4) one's own utility, (5) others utility, and (6) both. It is to be born in mind that should he be called as the wise man, he must be able to attain the this-life-utility and the next-life-utility. And he must try to perfect his own utility first, then he can help perfect others'utility. Because if he cannot be perfect his own utility, so he cannot help others perfect utility.
4. Having compared the principle of utility between Theravada Buddhist philosophy and Jereme Bentham and J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, the researcher found that they differ from each other in the following 4 points : (1) the principle or rationale, (2) the idea of happiness, (3) the motivation and its results of action, and (4) the aspect of Absolute or ultimate. It is found that they differ essentially from each other according the points No. 3 and No. 4 respectively.
5. it is also found that the Theravada concept of utility has influenced the Thai society in many aspects, such as the education, the politics and the governance, etc.