Ethical Philosophers

  • 597 BCE

    Confucius

    Confucius
    The Battle of Bi, which took place in 597 BCE during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history, is one notable historical event connected to Confucius. Confucius was a subordinate official for the state of Lu at the time, and he was chosen as the Minister of Justice to mediate a solution of the territorial war between the states of Lu and Qi. One of Confucius famous lines is "Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.”
  • 399 BCE

    Socrates

    Socrates
    His trial and execution in 399 BCE are two historical instances involving Socrates. Greece's Athens was home to the philosopher Socrates, who was charged with corrupting the youth and impiety for not acknowledging the state-recognized deities. Socrates was judged guilty and given a lethal hemlock drinking death sentence. One of the famous line of Socrates is "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."
  • 387 BCE

    Plato

    Plato
    Plato's creation of the Academy in Athens is one of his historical accomplishments. It is a philosophical school that Plato founded in Athens in 387 BCE, one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western World, and which was devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and the teaching of philosophy. Plato also taught at the Academy and wrote several of his well-known works, such as "The Republic" and "The Symposium." One of the famous lines of Plato is "Love is a serious mental disease."
  • 367 BCE

    Aristotle

    Aristotle
    The mentorship Aristotle received from the philosopher Plato is one important historical event from his life. In 367 BCE, Aristotle enrolled at Plato's Academy in Athens, where he studied for over 20 years. Aristotle studied and wrote a great deal about a variety of subjects during this time, including metaphysics, ethics, politics, and biology. One of the famous quotes of Aristotle is "Quality is not an act, it is a habit."
  • René Descartes

    René Descartes
    René Descartes' 1637 publication of "Discourse on the Method" is one historical occurrence. The famous phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am) appears in this work, which is regarded as one of the most significant philosophical and scientific treatises of the early modern era. Descartes wrote it while he was residing in the Netherlands, and it was first printed in French. One of his famous lines is "I think; therefore I am."
  • Thomas Hobbes

    Thomas Hobbes
    The English Civil War, which lasted from 1642 to 1651, is one notable historical occurrence associated with Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes lived at this time, and his involvement in the conflict influenced the way he viewed politics. He was a fervent advocate of the absolute monarchy and held that social order must be upheld by a powerful central government in order to avoid the chaos and violence he seen during the Civil War. One of his famous lines is "The world is governed by opinion."
  • Immanuel Kant

    Immanuel Kant
    The 1781 release of Immanuel Kant's best-known work, "Critique of Pure Reason," is an important historical occurrence. It was a ground-breaking philosophical work that significantly altered how academics and intellectuals saw reality's nature, metaphysics, and epistemology. It made a significant contribution to the Enlightenment movement and influenced Western philosophy for many years to come. One of the famous lines of Kant is "We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without.
  • Jeremy Bentham

    Jeremy Bentham
    The 1789 release of Jeremy Bentham's book "An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation" is one historical occasion connected to him, which claimed that the best choice of action are those that promote total happiness, was presented in this text. His "greatest happiness principle," that later became a key tenet of utilitarianism, was also introduced in the book. One of his famous lines is "Pleasure is in itself a good; may, even setting aside immunity from pain, the only good."
  • John Stuart Mill

    John Stuart Mill
    The 1859 release of John Stuart Mill's book "On Liberty," which is one historical event connected to him. In this book, Mill made a case for the value of individual freedom and the boundaries of governmental authority. The book has had a considerable influence on the growth of contemporary democratic countries and is regarded as a seminal work in the history of liberal political theory. One of his famous line is "All good things which exist are the fruits of originality."
  • John Rawls

    John Rawls
    American philosopher and political theorist John Rawls was well-known. His renowned work "A Theory of Justice," which was initially published in 1971, was one of his most important contributions. Based on the idea of a social compact that prioritizes fairness, equality, and individual rights, the book made a ground-breaking and significant argument for a just society. One of his famous lines is "The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance."