Doabilism: A Critical framework to understand Perceived Feasibility of Action

Abstract

Every decision in human life is not merely the result of external circumstances; rather, a complex psychological, ethical, and intellectual process operates behind it. Often, a person chooses a particular course of action not because it is inherently righteous or ethical, but because they feel capable of executing it. It is this very ‘doability’ that gradually begins to serve as the basis for the action’s propriety, rationale, and moral legitimacy. Thus, the sense of ‘I can do this.’ gradually transforms into the conviction that ‘I should do this.’ The present study attempts to understand this psychological and philosophical process through a theoretical framework termed Doabilism. This theory analyzes the interrelationships among the sense of capability, feasibility, self-interest, the construction of justification, and rational argumentation within the human decision-making process. It suggests that in many situations, rather than serving as the initial source of a decision, reason becomes a means to justify pre-existing inclinations. The Indian philosophical tradition, especially the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, offers an alternative ethical paradigm to this tendency. According to the Gita, the basis of action should not be power or selfishness, but svadharma, buddhiyoga, selflessness and dharmabodh. The principle of unselfish action elevates man above the tendency of self-justification arising from the accomplishment of action and orients him towards duty, self-restraint and collection of the people. In this light, ‘Doabilism’ offers a descriptive account of human decisions, whereas the Gita’s principle of Nishkama Karma (selfless action) establishes their normative direction. The dialogue between the two not only provides an opportunity to reinterpret decision-making, ethics, and action within the Indian intellectual tradition but also creates a novel conceptual foundation for contemporary literary criticism, moral philosophy, and the study of human behavior.