The Concept of Karma Across Different Hindu Philosophical Schools: An Epistemological Bridge to Contemporary Ethics

Abstract

This paper argues that karma, as understood across different Hindu philosophical schools, functions as an epistemological bridge between ancient wisdom traditions and contemporary ethical discourse. While previous scholarship has focused on historical development or specific school interpretations, this review demonstrates how the systematic examination of karma across Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, and Vedanta reveals a sophisticated framework for understanding moral causation that addresses contemporary challenges in ethics, psychology, and environmental philosophy. By analyzing primary texts and synthesizing diverse interpretations, this paper establishes karma not merely as a religious doctrine but as a robust philosophical principle that offers unique insights for modern ethical theory, particularly regarding the temporal dimensions of moral responsibility and the integration of individual agency within systemic causation