தமிழ் இலக்கியங்களில் அறப்பண்புகளும் மனித நேயமும்: Ethical Values and Humanism in Tamil Literature

Abstract

Human beings ought to live a righteous life, cherishing other living beings just as they cherish their own lives. Tamil literature, spanning two millennia, was not created merely for imaginative appeal; it has played a vital role in guiding and refining society. It embodies noble virtues that humans should practice—such as love, compassion, generosity, mercy, non-harming of other beings, and a helpful disposition. Valluvar asserts that there is no wealth greater than virtue, and no greater harm than forsaking it. A virtuous nature elevates a human being to a higher plane. One must first learn to love oneself before one can truly love the world. Performing right actions and abstaining from wrong ones constitute the fundamental elements of virtue. This article examines in detail how the values of virtue and humanism have been cherished in the realm of Tamil literature from the Sangam era to the present day.