Modern society faces challenges such as information overload and loss of autonomy due to rapid digitalization. Consequently, the importance of individual autonomy and voluntary decision-making has grown, aligning with the social welfare value of respecting self-determination. This study examines the implications for Buddhist social welfare by analyzing the value of voluntariness in the Aṅguttara Nikāya.
The research focuses on two dimensions: self-determination and self-actualization. Self-determination is analyzed through autonomous decision-making and the Four Noble Truths, demonstrating how individuals recognize problems and act independently. Self-actualization is explored through an integrative analysis of the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment (bodhipakkhiyā dhammā), which describes the process of cultivating latent potential toward liberation.
The findings confirm that the Aṅguttara Nikāya respects human free will, closely aligning with the values of self-determination and self-actualization in contemporary social welfare. This study suggests a direction for social welfare practice to restore individual autonomy in the digital age, grounded in early Buddhist thought.