Major Ethical Philosophies

Confucius, The Golden Rule

551 BCE

Confucius (551-479 BCE) was a Chinese philosopher and politician known for his teachings on ethics and social order. He emphasized personal and societal virtue, education, and the pursuit of knowledge. One of his most famous teachings was the Golden Rule: "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself." Additionally, some of his famous quotations are: "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." and "Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."

Socrates, Western Philosophy

470 BCE

Socrates (470-399 BCE) was a Greek philosopher and thinker. He is considered one of the founders of Western philosophy and is known for his method of questioning and examining beliefs, which is now known as the Socratic method. Socrates believed that the pursuit of wisdom and virtue was the key to a virtuous life. Famous quote: "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing."

Plato

428 BCE

Plato (428-348 BCE) was a student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. He's central ideas is the theory of Forms, which suggests that there is a realm of ideas and forms that is separate from the physical world. He also emphasized the importance of virtue and knowledge, and he believed that the ultimate goal of human life was to achieve the highest form of knowledge in order to lead a meaningful life. One of his famous quotations is “No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”

Aristotle

384 BCE

Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was a student of Plato and regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of ethical philosophy. He believed that knowledge could be gained through empirical observation and logical understanding, which set the foundation for the scientific method. He also emphasized the idea of the "golden mean," which suggests that virtue lies in finding the right balance between extremes. Famous quote: "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

Epicurus

341 BCE

Epicurus (341-270 BCE) was a Greek philosopher born who founded the school of philosophy known as Epicureanism, which emphasized the pursuit of happiness and the avoidance of pain. Epicurus believed that pleasure was the highest good, but he defined it as the absence of physical or mental pain, rather than the pursuit of sensual pleasures. One of his famous quotations is: "Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist."

Cicero

106 BCE

Cicero (106-43 BCE) was a Roman philosopher, lawyer, and politician. He believed in the importance of natural law and the pursuit of justice and equality, and argued that human reason should guide moral decision-making. Cicero's most famous quote is "A room without books is like a body without a soul." and "The foundation of justice is good faith."

Augustine of Hippo

354

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) was a Christian theologian and philosopher who believed in the concept of original sin and argued that humans could only achieve salvation through God's grace. He also emphasized the importance of introspection and believed that self-knowledge was a necessary step towards understanding God. One of his famous quotations is: “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it."

Thomas Aquinas

1225

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was an Italian theologian and philosopher. He believed that reason and faith are complementary, and that natural law is the basis for moral reasoning. He sought to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, emphasizing the importance of virtue ethics and the existence of God. Aquinas' famous quotation is: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

Immanuel Kant

1724

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was an influential philosopher known for his works on ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. His ethical theory, known as deontological ethics, suggests that actions should be evaluated based on their adherence to moral duties and principles rather than their consequences. One of his famous quotations is: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."

Jean-Paul Sartre

1905

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) is a french existentialist philosopher who believed in the importance of individual freedom and choice in ethics. He also believed that individuals are responsible for creating their own meaning and purpose in life. One of his famous quotations is: "Man is condemned to be free."