History of Various Ethical Philosophies from Major Ethical Philosophers

WILLIAM JAMES (1842 - 1910)

1842 BCE

"There is but one cause of human failure. And that is man's lack of faith in his true Self." William James is considered by many to be the most insightful and stimulating of American philosophers, as well as the second of the three great pragmatists. His belief in the connection between mind and body led him to develop what has become known as the James-Lange Theory of emotion, which posits that human experience of emotion arises from physiological changes in response to external events.

IMMANUEL KANT (1724 - 1804)

1724 BCE

“All human knowledge begins with intuitions, proceeds from thence to concepts, and ends with ideas.” Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher whose thinking revolved around metaphysics. Kant argued that we can only have knowledge of things that are possible to experience. Kant also argued that morality cannot be based on our emotions or experience of the world, because this would leave it weak and subjective, and lacking the unconditional obligation that he believed was central to moral law.

THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1679)

1588 BCE

"Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who wrote on several topics that would come to dominate the political and philosophical discourse. In the history of philosophy, he is best known for his work on political theory. He argues that subjects retain a right of self-defense against the sovereign power, giving them the right to disobey or resist when their lives are in danger.

CONFUCIUS (551 - 479 B.C.)

551 BCE

"Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you." Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, teacher, and political figure largely considered the father of the Eastern style of thought. His teachings focused on creating ethical social relationships, setting educational standards, and promoting justice and honesty. His philosophy focuses on promoting social harmony, often through the observation of traditional rituals, filial piety, and the cultivation of a virtuous character.

SOCRATES (469-399 B.C.)

469 BCE

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." Socrates "Socratic Method" laid the groundwork for Western systems of philosophy, delivering a belief that through the act of questioning, the mind can manage to find truth. Socrates believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater well-being of society. He emphasized the idea that the more a person knows, the greater his or her ability to reason and make choices that will bring true happiness.

PLATO (428 - 348 B.C.)

428 BCE

“Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom.” He was a priori, a rational philosopher who sought knowledge logically rather than from the senses. Plato maintains a virtue-based eudaemonistic conception of ethics. That is to say, happiness or well-being (eudaimonia) is the highest aim of moral thought and conduct, and the virtues (aretê: 'excellence') are the dispositions/skills needed to attain it.

ARISTOTLE (384 - 322 B.C.)

384 BCE

"Be a free thinker and don't accept everything you hear as truth. Be critical and evaluate what you believe in." Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who made important contributions by systemizing deductive logic and wrote on physical subjects. His philosophy had a long-lasting influence on the development of all Western philosophical theories. In his natural philosophy, Aristotle combines logic with observation to make general, causal claims.