Major Ethical Philosophies timeline

Confucius, known as the "First Teacher" in Chinese culture, emphasized ethics, morality, and social order. His philosophy, which included the "golden rule," has had a profound impact on East Asian thought and society. Confucius' teachings on personal integrity, education, and moral character have influenced Chinese politics, education, and social norms for centuries. One of his famous lines is, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

Socrates, a Greek philosopher, emphasized moral reasoning and the importance of living a virtuous life. He believed that pursuing knowledge and wisdom was crucial to leading a good life, and his method of questioning challenged people's assumptions and beliefs. His contributions to ethics are widely recognized, and he is often credited with laying the groundwork for Western philosophy. One of his famous lines is, "The greatest lesson I have learned in life is that I still have a lot to learn."

Plato, a student of Socrates and a prominent Greek philosopher, extensively wrote about ethics, morality, justice, and the ideal society. He believed that pursuing truth and knowledge was crucial to living a good life. His theory of Forms proposed the existence of ideal forms beyond the physical world. Plato's works have had a significant influence on Western philosophy. One of his famous lines is, “There is no harm in repeating a good thing.”

Aristotle, a student of Plato, believed that the pursuit of happiness and the development of virtuous character were essential to living a good life. His philosophy emphasized the importance of virtue and had a lasting impact on Western thought, including contributions to logic and the natural sciences. One of his famous lines is, "It is our choice of good or evil that determines our character, not our opinion about good or evil."

Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, believed that pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain were crucial to a good life, but true pleasure came from tranquility and avoiding unnecessary desires. His ideas influenced hedonistic and materialistic philosophies and helped develop Stoicism. He said, "The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance."

A Roman philosopher and statesman who stressed the significance of virtue, justice and the common good in his works on ethics and morality. He believed ethical behavior was crucial to establishing a just society, and his ideas have been influential in Western political theory. He was renowned for his oratory skills and is considered one of the greatest orators of the Roman Republic. He said, "The foundations of justice are that no one should suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted."

Thomas Aquinas, a medieval philosopher and theologian, believed that the pursuit of virtue and the principles of natural law were essential to living a good life. He integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology and his works have had a lasting impact on Western thought, particularly in the field of ethics. One of his famous lines is, "Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good."

Kant was a German philosopher who emphasized the importance of reason and duty in ethics. He believed that moral principles could be derived through rational reflection and that the pursuit of virtue was essential to living a good life. Kant's works have had a profound impact on modern Western philosophy and ethics, particularly his deontological approach to ethics, which emphasizes moral duties and obligations. He said, "Live your life though your every act were to become a universal law."

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher and social reformer who emphasized the principle of utilitarianism, which holds that the right course of action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. His works have had a lasting impact on modern social policy, ethics, and economics. One of his famous lines is "Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove."

Mill, an English philosopher, defended utilitarianism, the principle that ethical behavior should maximize happiness and minimize suffering. He emphasized individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness, impacting the development of liberal political theory and social justice philosophy. Mill said, "So long as we do not harm others we should be free to think, speak, act, & live as we see fit, without molestation from individuals, law, or gov't."

Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher who critiqued traditional moral values and emphasized the importance of individual will and creativity. His philosophy challenged the idea of objective truth and encouraged individuals to create their own values based on their desires rather than conforming to societal norms. Nietzsche's works have had a significant influence on the development of existentialist and postmodern thought. He said, "Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual."

Sartre was French philosopher who emphasized the importance of existentialism, the idea that individuals must create their own meaning and purpose in life. He believed in the importance of individual freedom and responsibility, and his works have had a significant impact on the development of existentialist philosophy and the philosophy of personal identity. Sartre said, "Man is not the sum of what he has already, but rather the sum of what he does not yet have, of what he could have."

Major Ethical Philosophies

Confucius

Socrates

Plato

Aristotle

Epicurus

Cicero

Thomas Aquinas

Immanuel Kant

Jeremy Bentham

John Stuart Mill

Friedrich Nietzsche

Jean-Paul Sartre