இலக்கியம் காட்டும் அறநெறிகள்: பழந்தமிழ் நூல்கள் முதல் நவீன சமுதாயம் வரையிலான வாழ்வியல் விழுமியங்களின் ஒப்பாய்வு

Ethical Values Reflected in Literature: A Comparative Study of Life Values from Ancient Tamil Texts to Modern Society

Abstract

Literature serves not only as a mirror reflecting the nature and values of human life, but also functions as a medium that transmits society's norms and culture across generations. In particular, the landscape of Tamil literature plays a vital role in cultivating human moral standards and guiding the individual along the path of righteousness. From Sangam literature to post-Sangam didactic texts, twin epics, devotional literature, and modernist works, literature across all eras subtly emphasizes how man should live with good conduct.

Sublime moral principles such as compassion, love, justice, impartiality, unity, humility, and charity are consistently put forward in Tamil literature. The nobility of family relationships, social responsibility, the benevolent mindset of helping other living beings, and ecological ethics that preserve the natural environment are conveyed to readers in an easily understandable manner through verses, poems, and narratives. Through this, Tamil literature stands out as an excellent guide for living that enhances man's inner virtues. Therefore, this study establishes that literature is not merely an art form of aesthetic expression, but also acts as a manual of life ethics that reforms human society and leads it on the right path.