Mimamsa Ethics
The word “mimamsa” means
the “desire to think”, or more colloquially, “how to think through or interpret
the things.” As it is the proper way of interpretation of Vedic
text, it is also called Purva Mimamsa.
It is also known by Dharma Mimamsa
because it is an inquiry to Dharma established by Vedas. Similarly it is also Karma Mimamsa as it describes the importance of sacrificial
activities in attaining the pure Dharma as the good. So overall this
demonstrates that “mimamsa” means “Investigation, inquiry or discussion.”
The earliest work of the system, the
Mimamsa-sutra of Jaimini (c. 4th century BC), was followed by
the writings of a long line of interpreters and teachers, notably Kumarila
Bhatta and Prabhakara Mishra (8th century). Kumarila is credited with using
Mimamsa to defeat Buddhism in India; Prabhakara was a realist who believed that
sense perceptions were true.
It is probably the earliest of the six orthodox
systems (darsahans) of Hindu philosophy. Its aim is to give rules for the interpretation
of the Vedas and to provide a philosophical justification for the
observance of Vedic ritual. . Mimamsa is fundamental to Vedanta and has
deeply influenced Hindu law. Hindu jurisprudence reformulated the Mimamsa
theology by staking a claim that what is good for the individual must be
“de-centered” in favor of what is good for the social system of castes and life
stages.
Mimamsa
explain how the human can achieve the magnificent power produced by a correctly
performed sacrificial ritual but not through the action of gods. The result of the sacrifice usually comes
after the death of the person performing the ritual.
In
this ethics there are ‘Bidhi’ and ‘Nisedh’ which means ‘command’ and
‘prohibition’ respectively. With this Bidhi and Nisedh people are injected to
do something within the code of conduct.
In
mimamsa ethics essentially everything is determined by character (dharma) or
lack of it through the law of karma or action with its consequences. Thus
dharma or karma supports the universe. If it is ethically right, it produces
enjoyment; if it is wrong, then suffering is experienced. This force (shakti) of dharma or karma
is extraordinary and unseen. The universe, being eternal, is not created by
this force, but it is shaped by it.
Mimamsa
gives the importance to “theory of Karma” which states that good actions result
good and evil produces evil result. So it solely depends on what and how you
perform. So in journalism also the sense of “karmayogya” plays a pivotal role as journalist need to play fair
game, to be moral, ethical and give justice to the people. That is why if the
journalistic code of ethics if based on Mimamsa philosophy, it seems not only
coherent but also practical.
So
mimamsa ethics can be applied in the field of journalism or any media
profession. In present context where there is being kidnapped or murdered of
media professionals, in this case if everybody understood the Mimamsa ethics
and apply it, it would have been diminished.
Another
instance can be the use of the language or the word in media field also
determines the ethical value of media. The journalist or the reporter can use
the word like “dristibihin” for blind or “differently able people” for
physically impaired persons so that it would be more ethical.
It
emphasis on deontological ethics, that expresses duty. In reporting and editing
Karma is fulfilled. Every Karma of a journalist is a Dharma. So Dharma in
journalistic field is doing all Karma in perfect way.
Therefore
through Mimasa Ethics, it can be determined the ethical value of media through dhrama and karma.
REFRENCES:
Adhikary, N.M. “Mimamsa-Philosophy
and Mass Media Ethics” BODHI An Interdisciplinary Journal. Dhulikhel:
Department of Languages and Mass Communication, 2007.
Ethics of Hindu philosophy by Sanderson Beck Retrieved on 6 May, 2012 from http://www.san.beck.org/EC11-Hindu.html
Hermeneutics
and ethics - University Publishing Online Retrieved on 6
May, 2012 from http://books.google.com.np/
Mimamsa
Ethics- Media Studies Academic Blog Retrieved on 6 May,
2012 from http://visitskc.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/mimamsa-ethics/
