What is the Gita’s position on deontology?

From Peter

Transcript

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Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna. Question from Peter. What is the Gita’s position on deontology? Answer, deontology refers to the rule-based actions, that means our actions should be governed by certain rules and this deontology is often contrasted with virtue ethics or consequentialism.
Virtue ethics means our actions should be governed not by rules, but by values, by virtues and consequentialism means our actions should be governed by consequences. These are the consequences, so therefore I will do this, these are the consequences, I will not do it. So, that means there are three different factors.
One is, okay, this is what I am told to do, this is the rule, therefore I will do it. Second is, no, I have certain governing values and according to values I will act and the values will shape how I will act or not act. And third is that I will look at consequences.
What is the consequence of this? If it is good, I will act, otherwise I will not act. So, the Bhagavad Gita can seem to support each of these. Say, in 3.35, it says, one should always do one’s prescribed duty, even if one is destroyed in that and one should not do somebody else’s duty.
So, that may seem to support deontology, that we should just act according to our rules, our prescribability as given in scriptures. But then the Bhagavad Gita concludes in 18.66 by saying that, Just give up all varieties of religion, just surrender to Me. So, there it’s talking about that don’t bother about dharma, the rules in there, just focus on surrender.
And this is value-based, that why should one surrender? Because of, because of devotion, because of faith in the Lord, because of the desire to go closer to Him and that is mentioned in the previous verse. So, Krishna doesn’t use specific activities, but He’s used generic principles, fix your mind on Me, become your devotee, offer your heart in homage to Me. So, this is value-based.
The Bhagavad Gita’s thrust is value-based primarily, that the supreme value of life is pure love. And pure love has its highest expression when it is directed towards the highest being, that is the Supreme Lord Krishna. So, bhakti is the defining underlying value of the Bhagavad Gita and it says that, even as far as consequentialism is concerned, what is the consequence? If by surrender to God, even if there are some bad consequences, Krishna says, I will take care of them.
I will free you from simple reactions. Of course, this does not, this idea that Krishna will take care of consequences is never to be taken as a license for reckless action or immoral action, because the Bhagavad Gita does talk about moral principles very importantly and the Bhagavad Gita also asks us to deliberate. In 18.63, it says, deliberate deeply and then decide what you are going to do.
So, Bhagavad Gita does talk about deliberation and it gives us 18.58, it says, if you do this, this will happen. If you fix your mind on Me, you will attain, pass over all obstacles by My grace. Otherwise, you will be lost if you act out of ego.
So, the Bhagavad Gita does talk about considering consequences and then choosing actions. So, in that sense, there are many places that Krishna instructs by contrasting. If you do this, this will happen.
If you do that, that will happen. 9.25 says, different modes of worship will lead to different destinations. But the important point is, the Bhagavad Gita ultimately helps us understand that the rules are meant to help us develop love for God and consequences, the most desirable consequence is an increased love for God.
And while pursuing love for God, even if there are some unfortunate consequences, God will take care of them. So, the Bhagavad Gita doesn’t support deontology, just a rigid ritual or rule-based life, nor does it just make everything pragmatic. Okay, this has a good consequence, I’ll do it.
If it doesn’t have a good consequence, I won’t do it. Because we can’t really see consequences too far ahead. And we may think that thing will have one consequence and may have some other consequence also.
So, the Bhagavad Gita teaches that we should focus on developing love for God. And that love should be the primary motive for our action. And to assist us in developing that love, and to assist us in choosing actions based on that love, there are also rules that are given.
And there’s also the understanding that we should use, we should consider consequences. But ultimately, the focus is on developing love and letting love be the guiding principle for all our actions. Thank you.
Hare Krishna.