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''Impeachment of Man'' is a book written by [[Savitri Devi]] in India and first published in 1959. It's central themes are [[animal rights]] and [[ecology]].<ref name=TN>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xAmMNnJlfnoC "The new encyclopedia of the occult" – Devi, Savitri], John Michael Greer. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2003. {{ISBN|1-56718-336-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-56718-336-8}}. p. 130–131</ref> Devi criticises "man-centered creeds" which disregard human duties towards other species, and which dominate spirituality in both Europe, though [[abrahamic religion]] and China, through a worldview centered on the human family. She identifies Indian as the one area in which "life-centerd religion" was established, resulting from the belief in a continuity of reincarnation between all life forms. However, the prevailing Hindu worldview is pessimistic in nature, seeing individual life as a curse rather than a blessing. Thus, Devi notes, while a western vegetarian might abstain from meat out of a love for animals, an Indian vegetarian is only seeking their own liberation from reincarnation. Devi would favour a religion of "joyous wisdom," which should be "neither man-centered nor pessimistic, nor lacking truly universal kindness in the Buddhistic sense of the word." Devi says that no known historic civiloisation has been founded on such a belief, but it can be found in a few individual figures throughout history. Throughout the work she gives as examples such figures as the Egyptian king [[Akhnaton]], [[Pythagoras]], [[Apollonius of Tyana]] and [[Ashoka]]. Throughout the text Devi condemns [[meat]] eating, [[vivisection]], [[animal testing]], [[fur clothing]], the wastage of food that might be given to animals, [[pet abandonment]], [[neutering]], and the abuse of [[beasts of burden]], as well as some infractions against plant life, such as the destruction of woodlands. Beyond this, she advocates for active kindness towards animals, and criticises the merely negative Hindu concept of [[Ahimsa]] or "non-violence." |
''Impeachment of Man'' is a book written by [[Savitri Devi]] in India and first published in 1959. It's central themes are [[animal rights]] and [[ecology]].<ref name=TN>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xAmMNnJlfnoC "The new encyclopedia of the occult" – Devi, Savitri], John Michael Greer. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2003. {{ISBN|1-56718-336-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-56718-336-8}}. p. 130–131</ref> Devi criticises "man-centered creeds" which disregard human duties towards other species, and which dominate spirituality in both Europe, though [[abrahamic religion]] and China, through a worldview centered on the human family. She identifies Indian as the one area in which "life-centerd religion" was established, resulting from the belief in a continuity of reincarnation between all life forms. However, the prevailing Hindu worldview is pessimistic in nature, seeing individual life as a curse rather than a blessing. Thus, Devi notes, while a western vegetarian might abstain from meat out of a love for animals, an Indian vegetarian is only seeking their own liberation from reincarnation. Devi would favour a religion of "joyous wisdom," which should be "neither man-centered nor pessimistic, nor lacking truly universal kindness in the Buddhistic sense of the word." Devi says that no known historic civiloisation has been founded on such a belief, but it can be found in a few individual figures throughout history. Throughout the work she gives as examples such figures as the Egyptian king [[Akhnaton]], [[Pythagoras]], [[Apollonius of Tyana]] and [[Ashoka]]. Throughout the text Devi condemns [[meat]] eating, [[vivisection]], [[animal testing]], [[fur clothing]], the wastage of food that might be given to animals, [[pet abandonment]], [[neutering]], and the abuse of [[beasts of burden]], as well as some infractions against plant life, such as the destruction of woodlands. Beyond this, she advocates for active kindness towards animals, and criticises the merely negative Hindu concept of [[Ahimsa]] or "non-violence." |
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Written while the [[Nuremberg trials]] were ongoing, ''Impeachment of Man'' makes several references to the war, and Devi uses her criticism of "man-centered creeds" to trivialise the human cost of |
Written while the [[Nuremberg trials]] were ongoing, ''Impeachment of Man'' makes several references to the war, and Devi uses her criticism of "man-centered creeds" to trivialise the human cost of [[the Holocaust]]. The book also contains frequent references to [[racialist]] ideas. Devi considered National Socialism to be a life-centred religion, and attempted to synthesise with her belief in Hinduism.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Extreme Right, Climate Change and Terrorism|year=2022|first=Graham|last=Macklin|journal=Terrorism and Political Violence|page=983}}</ref> Devi's book has seen increased attention in recent years as a result of modern [[eco-fascist]] movments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hopenothate.org.uk/2019/10/02/the-regrowth-of-eco-fascism/ |title=The regrowth of eco-fascism - HOPE not hate on climate change |date=2 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldcrunch.com/opinion-analysis/ecofascism-when-far-right-ideology-fuses-with-ecology |title=Ecofascism: When Far-Right Ideology Fuses with Ecology - Worldcrunch}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 00:55, 2 October 2023
Impeachment of Man is a book written by Savitri Devi in India and first published in 1959. It's central themes are animal rights and ecology.[1] Devi criticises "man-centered creeds" which disregard human duties towards other species, and which dominate spirituality in both Europe, though abrahamic religion and China, through a worldview centered on the human family. She identifies Indian as the one area in which "life-centerd religion" was established, resulting from the belief in a continuity of reincarnation between all life forms. However, the prevailing Hindu worldview is pessimistic in nature, seeing individual life as a curse rather than a blessing. Thus, Devi notes, while a western vegetarian might abstain from meat out of a love for animals, an Indian vegetarian is only seeking their own liberation from reincarnation. Devi would favour a religion of "joyous wisdom," which should be "neither man-centered nor pessimistic, nor lacking truly universal kindness in the Buddhistic sense of the word." Devi says that no known historic civiloisation has been founded on such a belief, but it can be found in a few individual figures throughout history. Throughout the work she gives as examples such figures as the Egyptian king Akhnaton, Pythagoras, Apollonius of Tyana and Ashoka. Throughout the text Devi condemns meat eating, vivisection, animal testing, fur clothing, the wastage of food that might be given to animals, pet abandonment, neutering, and the abuse of beasts of burden, as well as some infractions against plant life, such as the destruction of woodlands. Beyond this, she advocates for active kindness towards animals, and criticises the merely negative Hindu concept of Ahimsa or "non-violence."
Written while the Nuremberg trials were ongoing, Impeachment of Man makes several references to the war, and Devi uses her criticism of "man-centered creeds" to trivialise the human cost of the Holocaust. The book also contains frequent references to racialist ideas. Devi considered National Socialism to be a life-centred religion, and attempted to synthesise with her belief in Hinduism.[2] Devi's book has seen increased attention in recent years as a result of modern eco-fascist movments.[3][4]
References
- ^ "The new encyclopedia of the occult" – Devi, Savitri, John Michael Greer. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2003. ISBN 1-56718-336-0, ISBN 978-1-56718-336-8. p. 130–131
- ^ Macklin, Graham (2022). "The Extreme Right, Climate Change and Terrorism". Terrorism and Political Violence: 983.
- ^ "The regrowth of eco-fascism - HOPE not hate on climate change". 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Ecofascism: When Far-Right Ideology Fuses with Ecology - Worldcrunch".