Many forms of Buddhism, divergent in philosophy and style, emerged as Buddhism filtered out of India into other parts of Asia. Nonetheless, all of them embodied an ethical core that is remarkably consistent. Articulated by the historical Buddha in his first sermon, this moral core is founded on the concept of karma--that intentions and actions have future consequences for an individual--and is summarized as Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood, three of the elements of the Eightfold Path. Although they were later elaborated and interpreted in a multitude of ways, none of these core principles were ever abandoned. The Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics provides a comprehensive overview of the field of Buddhist ethics in the twenty-first century. The Handbook discusses the foundations of Buddhist ethics focusing on karma and the precepts looking at abstinence from harming others, stealing, and intoxication. It considers ethics in the different Buddhist traditions and the similarities they share, and compares Buddhist ethics to Western ethics and the psychology of moral judgments. The volume also investigates Buddhism and society analysing economics, environmental ethics, and Just War ethics. The final section focuses on contemporary issues surrounding Buddhist ethics, including gender, sexuality, animal rights, and euthanasia. This groundbreaking collection offers an indispensable reference work for students and scholars of Buddhist ethics and comparative moral philosophy.
The Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics, Daniel Cozort and James Mark Shields (editors), Oxford University Press, 2018, Hardcover, 704 pp., $150.00

Daniel Cozort is Professor of Religion at Dickinson College. He is the author of Unique Tenets of the Middle Way Consequence School (Snow Lion Publications, 2013) and Highest Yoga Tantra (Snow Lion Publications, 2005).

James Mark Shields is Associate Professor of Comparative Humanities and Asian Thought at Bucknell University. His publications include Against Harmony: Progressive and Radical Buddhism in Modern Japan (Oxford University Press, 2017) and Critical Buddhism: Engaging with Modern Japanese Buddhist Thought (Ashgate, 2011).

CONTENTS: The Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics
List of Abbreviations		xi
List of Contributors		xiii
	Introduction Daniel Cozort and James Mark Shields	1
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
1.	Karma PETER HARVEY	7
2.	The Bodhisattva Precepts PAUL GRONER	29
3.	Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom JUSTIN S. WHITAKER and DOUGLASS SMITH	51
PART II: ETHICS AND BUDDHIST TRADITIONS
4.	Moral Development in the Jatakas, Avadanas, and Pali Nikayas MARTIN T. ADAM	77
5.	The Vinaya CHARLES S. PREBISH	96
6.	Bhiksuni Ordination BHIKKHU ANALAYO	116
7.	The Changing Way of the Bodhisattva: Superheroes, Saints, and Social Workers BARBRA CLAYTON	135
8.	Madhyamaka Ethics BRONWYN FINNIGAN	162
9.	Ethics in Pure Land Schools MICHAEL CONWAY	184
10.	A Perspective on Ethics in the Lotus Sutra GENE REEVES	205
11.	Ethics in Zen CHRISTOPHER IVES	221
12.	Tantric Ethics GARETH SPARHAM	246
13.	Buddhist Ethics in South and Southeast Asia JULIANA ESSEN	260
14.	East Asian Buddhist Ethics RICHARD MADSEN	279
15.	Buddhist Ethics in Contemporary Tibet HOLLY GAYLEY	293
PART III: COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES
16.	Buddhist Ethics Compared to Western Ethics SILAVADIN MEYNARD VASEN	317
17.	Buddhism and the Psychology of Moral Judgments and Perception in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Ethics EMILY MCRAE	335
18.	Ethics without Norms? Buddhist Reductionism and the Logical Space of Reasons DAN ARNOLD	359
PART IV: BUDDHISM AND SOCIETY
19.	The Buddhist Just Society PETER HARVEY	385
20.	Buddhist Economics: Problems and Possibilities JAMES MARK SHIELDS	407
21.	Buddhist Environmental Ethics: An Emergent and Contextual Approach STEPHANIE KAZA	432
22.	Buddhism, War, and Violence MICHAEL JERRYSON	453
23.	The Ethics of Engaged Buddhism in Asia SALLIE B. KING	479
24.	The Ethics of Engaged Buddhism in the West CHRISTOPHER QUEEN	501
PART V: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
25.	Human Rights DAMIEN KEOWN	531
26.	Buddhism and Women ALICE COLLETT	552
27.	Buddhism and Sexuality AMY PARIS LANGENBERG	567
28.	Buddhist Perspectives on Abortion and Reproduction MICHAEL G. BARNHART	592
29.	Euthanasia DAMIEN KEOWN	611
30.	Being and Its Other: Suicide in Buddhist Ethics MARTIN KOVAN	630
31.	Buddhism and Animal Rights PAUL WALDAU	650
Index		675