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"The standard of right or wrong is the will or law of God" Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. In Athens, Plato founded the Academy, a philosophical school where he taught philosophical doctrines and one of which is divine command theory. Plato's Divine Command Theory holds that morality is based on the commands and will of the gods and that actions are only right or wrong because the gods decree them to be so. -
"If virtues are not passions nor facilities, all remains is they should be states of character." Aristotle was an Ancient Greek philosopher who proposed virtue ethics, a moral theory that emphasizes the character and personal virtues of individuals as the key to ethical behavior. It holds that being a good person and cultivating virtuous traits, such as courage and honesty, are central to living a morally good life. It is concerned with the development of moral character rather than rules. -
"The light of reason is placed by nature (and thus by God) in every man to guide him in his acts." Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican priest and philosopher who wrote extensively about natural law. Natural law is a philosophical and ethical theory that states that humans have inherent values such as moral standards, rationality, and conscience, which allow them to make rational decisions. It also develops the sense of right-wrong and good-evil based on individual choices and behavior. -
"The condition of man is a condition of war of everyone against everyone." Hobbes is famous for his early and elaborate development of what has come to be known as social contract theory, the method of justifying political principles by appeal to the agreement that would be made among suitably situated rational, free, and equal persons. Social contract theory says that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior -
”It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.” Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher and political radical primarily known today for his moral philosophy, especially his principle of utilitarianism, which is a moral theory that states an action is right if it produces the greatest amount of pleasure for the greatest number of people affected by the action. It focuses on the consequences of an action rather than the action itself. -
“Man must be disciplined, for he is by nature raw and wild.” Kant's deontological philosophy stemmed from his belief that humans can reason and apply universal moral laws to all situations. Deontology is a moral theory that emphasizes the intrinsic nature of actions and places importance on fulfilling one's moral duty and obligations, regardless of the consequences that may result from those actions. It prioritizes the intention and inherent nature of actions over their outcomes. -
“Reason shows me that if my happiness is desirable and good, the equal happiness of any other person must be equally desirable” Henry Sidgwick was an English philosopher and economist that proposed ethical egoism. Ethical egoism, according to Henry Sidgwick, is a moral theory that holds an individual's actions should be guided by self-interest and promote one's own greatest happiness while taking into account the interests of others. -
“Increasing knowledge lessens the sphere of the supernatural.” He is a Finnish philosopher and was the one to formulate a detailed theory of moral relativism in his book “Ethics Are Relative”. Moral relativism is the belief that there is no universal, objective standard for morality, and that moral values and judgments are instead shaped by culture, history, and individuals. What is considered right or wrong can vary between individuals or cultures, and there is no absolute moral truth. -
"The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance." Rawls was an American moral philosopher in the liberal tradition who proposed his Theory of Justice which proposes that a just society ensures basic rights and freedoms for all, and arranges social and economic inequalities to benefit the least advantaged members. The theory is based on principles that would be chosen by rational people in a hypothetical "original position" of equality. -
“My contention is we won't get that success unless our children believe that they are cared for and learn to care for others.” Nel was an American feminist and philosopher known for her work in the ethics of care, a moral theory that emphasizes the importance of relationships, empathy, and compassion in decision-making. It values the interdependence of individuals and the need for individuals to care for one another. It focuses on particular, concrete situations rather than universal rules.