Major Ethical Philosophers

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900 CE)

1844 BCE

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is renowned for his attack on conventional morality. He held that there is no fundamental foundation for ethics and that morality is a human fabrication based on our subjective values. Nietzsche maintained that we should establish our own standards and live by them.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832 CE)

1748 BCE

"It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong." English philosopher Jeremy Bentham is renowned for his utilitarian philosophy. He thought that the best course of action is the one that maximizes happiness for the most individuals. Bentham maintained that we should assess the advantages and disadvantages of every course of action and pick the one that brings about the most happiness.

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804 CE)

1724 BCE

"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." German philosopher Kant is most known for his deontological ethics theory, which he developed. He held that moral activities are those that are carried out only out of a sense of obligation. According to Kant, we ought to view people as ends in and of themselves rather than only as means to an end.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679 CE)

1588 BCE

"The passions that incline men to peace are fear of death, desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living, and a hope by their industry to obtain them. Hobbes was an English philosopher who published a large body of work on political and ethical theory. He held that because people are naturally selfish, a social compact in which people give up part of their rights in exchange for state protection is the only way to create a peaceful and stable society.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE)

1225 BCE

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." Aquinas was a theologian and philosopher who specialized in ethics throughout the Middle Ages. He held that the basis of ethics is the natural law, which is founded on logic and common sense. According to Aquinas, happiness is the ultimate purpose of life and is attained through leading a moral life.

Confucius (551-479 BCE)

551 BCE

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, is credited with creating Confucianism. His worldview placed a strong emphasis on the values of kindness, justice, and appropriateness. He held a strong belief in the value of both individual morality and social order.

Socrates (469-399 BCE)

469 BCE

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." The father of Western ethics is regarded as Socrates. He is well-known for using the Socratic style of inquiry as a teaching tool. Socrates thought that the secret to leading a successful life was to pursue wisdom and knowledge. He thought that virtue would result from knowledge of the good.

Plato (428-348 BCE)

428 BCE

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." One of history's most significant philosophers and a pupil of Socrates was Plato. Throughout his dialogues, like as the Republic, which outlines his notion of justice, he wrote extensively on ethics. Plato felt that the secret to leading a moral life was to have understanding of the forms or concepts, such as the idea of justice or the good.

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

384 BCE

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." One of the greatest thinkers in history, Aristotle was a student of Plato. In his Nicomachean Ethics, which he authored in great detail, he made the case that virtue is the secret to leading a decent life. According to Aristotle, virtues are habits that we develop through practice and are necessary for leading a happy life.

Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

341 BCE

Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance." Greek philosopher Epicurus established the Epicureanism school of thought. He thought that since pleasure is the highest good, we should aim to increase it while reducing pain. But in his opinion, real joy comprises both intellectual and emotional pleasures in addition to bodily pleasure.