Question

The Buddha regarded the 'social world' as the creation of:

• A. Humans
• B. Planets
• C. Lord Brahma
• D. Lord Vishnu

Hint:

A core tenet of Buddhism is its rejection of a creator God and divine sanction for social hierarchies. Buddhist thought emphasizes causality and human agency in shaping the world.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the Buddhist perspective on the origin of the social world, including its institutions and structures like the state and social classes.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Early Buddhist philosophy, particularly as found in texts like the \textit{Aggañña Sutta} of the Digha Nikaya, offers a non-theistic explanation for the origin of the social world. It rejects the Brahmanical view that the social order (varna system) was created by a divine being (Brahma). Instead, the Buddhist tradition posits that the social world evolved over a long period due to the actions and needs of humans. According to this narrative, institutions like private property, family, and kingship arose out of human needs and as a response to growing problems like greed, theft, and conflict. The social world is therefore a human construct, not a divine creation.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Buddha regarded the social world as a creation of humans.