The International Journal of Literary Humanities

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Agency in Rgveda Book 2: Comparative Examination and Philosophical Implications


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1 Saint Leo University, United States
     

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This paper outlines observations concerning agency in Rgveda Book 2, which it compares to agency in Sumerian proverbs and wisdom literature and Shang oracle bone inscriptions. These observations indicate an affinity on important aspects of agency between the Rgveda 2 and Sumerian conceptions, on one hand, and a marked contrast with the outlook on agency that transpires from Shang oracle bone inscriptions, on the other hand. Rgveda 2 and Sumerian texts share a genetic conception of agency. Nevertheless, Rgveda 2 is distinctive in profiling a conception of agency that incorporates multiple determination, pluripotency, the explicit expression of universality, and mutual interaction. The paper will briefly explain these characteristics and their significance. All three conceptions of action, nevertheless, agree on one common feature: they do not present an inner driving power that brings about action. A broader implication of this study is that it is helpful to pay closer attention to generally under examined conceptions of agency, since they may reveal insights that are commonly overlooked.

Keywords

Agency, Comparative Philosophy, Intercultural Philosophy, Philosophy of Action, Rgveda, Shang Oracle Bones, Sumerian Proverbs and Wisdom Literature.
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  • Agency in Rgveda Book 2: Comparative Examination and Philosophical Implications

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Authors

Astrid Vicas
Saint Leo University, United States

Abstract


This paper outlines observations concerning agency in Rgveda Book 2, which it compares to agency in Sumerian proverbs and wisdom literature and Shang oracle bone inscriptions. These observations indicate an affinity on important aspects of agency between the Rgveda 2 and Sumerian conceptions, on one hand, and a marked contrast with the outlook on agency that transpires from Shang oracle bone inscriptions, on the other hand. Rgveda 2 and Sumerian texts share a genetic conception of agency. Nevertheless, Rgveda 2 is distinctive in profiling a conception of agency that incorporates multiple determination, pluripotency, the explicit expression of universality, and mutual interaction. The paper will briefly explain these characteristics and their significance. All three conceptions of action, nevertheless, agree on one common feature: they do not present an inner driving power that brings about action. A broader implication of this study is that it is helpful to pay closer attention to generally under examined conceptions of agency, since they may reveal insights that are commonly overlooked.

Keywords


Agency, Comparative Philosophy, Intercultural Philosophy, Philosophy of Action, Rgveda, Shang Oracle Bones, Sumerian Proverbs and Wisdom Literature.

References