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Period: 600 BCE to 501 BCE
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Intellectual and philosophical traditions developed in Greece between the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. It is characterized by the work of prominent philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle who explored questions related to the nature of reality, knowledge, and ethics. Ancient Greek Philosophy is widely considered the foundation of Western philosophy. -
470 BCE
Socratic Ethics
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates
This ethical philosophy is based on the ideas of Socrates, a Greek philosopher who lived in the 5th century BCE. It emphasizes the importance of moral education and self-improvement. -
427 BCE
Platonic Ethics
"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." - Plato
This ethical philosophy is based on the ideas of Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher. It emphasizes the importance of reason, truth, and the pursuit of knowledge. -
384 BCE
Aristotelian Virtue Ethics
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
This ethical philosophy focuses on the character traits or virtues that a person should cultivate in order to live a good life. It emphasizes moral education and the development of moral character. -
Period: 401 to 1500
Medieval Philosophy
Philosophical traditions that emerged during the Middle Ages, from the 5th century CE to the 15th century CE. During this time, the philosophical inquiry was heavily influenced by Christian theology and classical philosophy. The period saw the development of important philosophical traditions such as Scholasticism, which sought to reconcile the Christian faith with Aristotelian philosophy. -
1225
St. Thomas Aquinas' Natural Law Ethics
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - St. Thomas Aquinas
This ethical philosophy holds that there are certain natural laws that govern human behavior and that these laws are discoverable through reason. It emphasizes the importance of reason and natural law in ethical decision-making. -
Period: to
Modern Philosophy
Philosophical movements that emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries CE, and continued into the 19th century CE. It was characterized by a renewed interest in classical philosophy, as well as the emergence of new philosophical schools that explored questions related to the nature of knowledge, the relationship between mind and body, and the foundations of morality. -
Immanuel Kant's Deontological Ethics
"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." - Immanuel Kant
This ethical philosophy emphasizes the importance of following rules or duties. It holds that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of their consequences. Kant is one of the most well-known proponents of this philosophy. -
Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism
"The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation." - Jeremy Bentham
He believed that the goal of human action should be to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people, and that pleasure and pain are the only intrinsic goods and evils. He argued that we should evaluate actions based on their ability to promote pleasure and reduce pain. -
John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism
"Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." - John Stuart Mill
According to Mill, higher pleasures, such as intellectual and cultural pleasures, are more valuable than lower pleasures, such as physical pleasures, and we should strive to promote the higher pleasures, even if it means sacrificing the lower pleasures. -
Friedrich Nietzsche's Nietzschean Ethics
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." - Friedrich Nietzsche
This ethical philosophy is based on the ideas of Nietzsche, a German philosopher who lived in the 19th century. It emphasizes the importance of individualism, creativity, and the will to power. -
Period: to
Contemporary Philosophy
Philosophical traditions that emerged in the 20th century CE and continue to be developed today. This period is marked by a diversity of philosophical schools and thinkers who explore questions related to language, meaning, identity, and power, among others. Contemporary philosophers have drawn on insights from a range of disciplines, including science, psychology, and literature, in order to develop new approaches to traditional philosophical problems. -
Jean-Paul Sartre's Existential Ethics
"Man is condemned to be free." - Jean-Paul Sartre
This ethical philosophy emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and personal responsibility. It emphasizes the importance of personal freedom and authenticity in ethical decision-making. -
John Rawls' Contractarian Ethics
"Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought." - John Rawls
This ethical philosophy holds that moral principles are derived from agreements or contracts that people make with one another. It emphasizes the importance of justice and fairness in ethical decision-making. -
Carol Gilligan's Care Ethics
"Caring requires us to be attentive, to listen, to understand, to respond to needs, and to be present to the other." - Carol Gilligan
This ethical philosophy emphasizes the importance of caring relationships and the moral responsibility we have to care for others. It was developed in the 20th century by feminist philosophers.