Does the Bhagavad Gita promote the caste system?

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Selected thesis

The Bhagavad Gita promotes the caste system.

Pros

Cons

  • Pro claim 1

    The Bhagavad Gita suggests that different castes have inherent qualities, reflecting a cosmic order.

  • Pro claim 2

    Krishna asserts people's duties (svadharma) are based on their caste.

  • Con claim 1

    A major theme of the Bhagavad Gita is that people must transcend societal constructs to understand the true nature of the self.

  • Con claim 2

    Krishna's conception of caste appears to be based on personal quality (guna) rather than birth.