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469 BCE
Socrates
Socrates states that no one commits an evil act knowingly and doing wrong arises out of ignorance. An individual can only commit moral wrongdoing if they lack moral wisdom. But sometimes, even though an individual has intelligence, they willfully commits an immoral act to satisfy their motive. Sometimes, people would still do things that are wrong on others but for them it is right. -
428 BCE
Plato
Plato's argument is that most people who believe that being wealthy, popular, or influential would bring them happiness are profoundly misguided and need to rethink their goals. Plato's greatest concern is to test people's perception of virtue, for it is here that they go horribly wrong in their attempts to live happier lives. We may find real happiness simply by being able to give or help someone without expecting anything in return. -
384 BCE
Aristotle
Aristotle's "The Golden Mean Principle" states that to be happy we have to live a life of moderation. Moral action is the middle ground between two extremes: excess on one end and deficiency on the other. You'll be behaving morally if you find a middle ground between those two extremes. The Golden Mean is a way of assisting an individual in exercising good conduct while they aspire to make it second nature. It emphasizes strong character rather than responsibility or seeking positive outcomes. -
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes believes that human beings are
basically selfish creatures who would do anything to improve
their position. His philosophy states that without barriers that can keep a person's selfish gain at bay, people will create chaos just get what they want. Based on the idea, people must have a government to keep peace and order, by maintaining and implementing laws and regulations. This idea also theorizes that there is no natural law, therefore no natural rights. -
Jeremy Bentham
In Bentham's Utilitarianism, he states that do whatever produces good for the greater number. Rule utilitarianism seeks to benefit the greatest number of people by the most equitable means possible. Act utilitarianism encourages individuals to take the most ethical decisions possible for the greater good. It is the most popular approach to business ethics because of the way it accounts for cost and benefits. -
John Stuart Mill
Mill's utilitarianism emphasizes to rule utilitarian and quality of pleasure. He distinguished the higher and lower pleasures. He also suggested to use principle of utility to determine moral rules which govern utility.
