Abstract:
The thesis entitled A Comparative Study of the Concept of Responsibility in Theravada Buddhism and Confucianism has three objectives: 1) to study the concept of responsibility in Theravada Buddhism, 2) to study the concept of responsibility in Confucianism, and 3) to comparatively study of the concept of responsibility in Theravada Buddhism and Confucianism.
The results of research were as follows:
Responsibility in Theravada Buddhism means the intension of doing own duty, including accepting of its result. The responsibility could be divided into responsibility for oneself, family, and society. The Significance of responsibility is to make progress to the development of society, politics and administration with the doctrines related to responsibility, viz., six directions and Four paths of accomplishment (Iddhippada).
Responsibility in Confucianism means doing duties to each other among people based on ones own status in society. Responsibility has been divided into responsibility of the ruler to his subjects, responsibility to family, and responsibility to society. The significance of responsibility is to make progress to development of society, politics and administration with the doctrines related to responsibility, i.e., five social relationship, and gratitude.
From the comparison, it was found that both of them have the similar point on doing duties to other, dividing the type of responsibility to others, having the significance, and having the related doctrines. The differences of them were that the responsibility in Theravada Buddhism consists of responsibility for oneself, responsibility between master and servant, and between ascetics and devotees, in addition, responsibility in Buddhism gives importance both this world and next one, whereas in Confucianism, consists of responsibility between the ruler and his subjects, no responsibility between master and servants, and also there is no responsibility between ascetics and devotees, it gives importance only in human world.
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. Center Library