ABSTRACT

One of the main themes running through Gandhi’s life and work was the battle against evil. This book offers a fascinating reconstruction of Gandhi and the doctrine of Ahimsa or non-violence. Gandhi’s moral perfectionism is contrasted with other forms of perfectionism, but the book stresses that Gandhi also offered a doctrine of the second best. Following Gandhi, the author argues that outward violence with compassion is intrinsically not as good as non-violence with compassion, but it is a second best that is sometimes a necessary evil in an imperfect world. The book provides an illuminating analysis of coercion, non-co-operation, civil disobedience and necessary evil, comparing Gandhi’s ideas with that of some of the leading western moral, legal and political philosophers. Further, some of his important ideas are shown to have relevance for the working of the Indian Constitution.

This book will be essential for scholars and researchers in moral, legal and political philosophy, Gandhi studies, political science and South Asian studies.

chapter |37 pages

Introduction

part I|117 pages

chapter 1|42 pages

Violence in a Spirit of Love

Gandhi and the limits of non-violence*

chapter 2|23 pages

Necessary Evil

Justification, excuse or pardon?*

chapter 3|50 pages

Indian Secularism and Religious Accommodation

Liberal balancing or diversity with harmony?*

part II|115 pages

chapter 4|31 pages

Civil Disobedience as a Form of Address*

chapter 5|34 pages

Non-Cooperation and Coercion*

chapter 6|26 pages

The Right to Civil Disobedience*

chapter 7|22 pages

Conclusion*