Latin american liberation ethics, ethics of bishop lakshman wickramasinghe and present day ethics: Exploring interconnections
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Date
2019-03-29
Authors
Revd. Parimalachchelvan, S.D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
The Search for a relevant ethics for our times in Sri Lanka is a need today. The existing reality should change through an ethics. The Latin American Liberation Ethics (LALE) is one of the paradigm shifts which facilitated a pro-life stance for those in the periphery that transformed their lives. Liberation Ethics based on Liberation Philosophy and Theology is praxis-oriented and promotes a counter philosophical discourse culture on par with change than what is found in the interpretation of Karl Marx. This affirming cultural diversity holds gender, racial equality and political sovereignty. This research study covers literature review with a focus on the engagement and transformation of individuals and communities. The presentation will employ the dialectical method, hermeneutics of suspicion and the praxis approach. According to the research done so far, it is very clear that Lakshman Wickramasinghe (LW) lived and witnessed a 'Doing Ethics (DE)' which authorized liberation not only 'here and now' but also beyond the human parameters of history through his catch phrase 'Indigenous Marxist Socialism (IMS)'. He proposed Jesus as (Christology) the friend of the vulnerable, the prophetic contestant and the martyr denouncing evil and the self-sacrificing Sathyagrahi.' LW kept these in a dialectical relation. He calls to opt out to 'IMS' which calls for the prevention of the concentration of profit, power and privilege of the dominant groups at the cost of the marginalized throughout Asia. He advocated indigenous socialism, instead of Western Marxism, which provides better opportunity for the majority to have dignity, justice, wellbeing and fulfillment both individually and as a community. He identified the need for structural change analytically for all deprived groups. In the light of the liberation ethics, LW preached at the time of the General Strike in 1980 to show solidarity with the strikers. Further, he condemned the violators of the 1983 July ethnic riots in Sri Lanka. He appreciated the role of a few, like M. M. Thomas, and called for engagement in a 'DE' to affirm life in the periphery. Life assuring Present Day Ethics, which emerged as a synthesis of LALE and the Ethics of LW will change our chaotic situation to make life to all beyond any discrimination. All the issues will be under examination using the hermeneutics of suspicion in actions followed by reflections in DE.
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Keywords
Liberation Ethics , Liberation Philosophy , Life Assuring Ethics
Citation
Proceedings of the PGIHS Research Congress ( PGIHS-RC) -2019, University of Peradeniya, p. 15