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Period: 17 BCE to 19 BCE
Modern Ethics
Immanuel Kant: Founded deontological ethics, emphasizing duty and universal moral principles.
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill: Pioneered utilitarianism, focusing on maximizing happiness or pleasure. -
Period: 5 BCE to 4 BCE
Ancient Greek Ethics
Socrates: Emphasized moral introspection and the pursuit of knowledge.
Plato: Advocated for a theory of Forms and the idea of the "good." -
Period: 5 BCE to 15 BCE
Medieval Ethics
Augustine: Merged Platonic philosophy with Christian theology, emphasizing divine command theory.
Thomas Aquinas: Synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, developing natural law theory. -
Period: 20 to 20
Contemporary Ethics (20th century - present):
Existentialism: Emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility (e.g., Jean-Paul Sartre).
Feminist Ethics: Critiques traditional ethical theories for their gender bias and explores issues of justice, care, and relationality.