-
"The form that freedom takes when it is informed by reflection"
Michel Foucault is a philosopher, Historian, and social theorist. He believed oppressed humans are entitled to rights and they have a duty to rise up against the abuse of power to protect these rights. -
"The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation" - Jeremy Bentham
Utilitarianism as an ethical system nowadays, though it has application to numerous areas beyond that simply of lawmaking, holds to this same principle. If the balance of evil outweighs that of good, then the choice is immoral. Due to this emphasis on the outcome of ethical decisions, utilitarianism is classified as a consequentialist theory. -
"We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without"
This Ethical Philosophy emphasizes the importance of following moral rules and principles, regardless of the consequences. -
"It is not enough to have good mind, the main thing is to use it well"
Descartes was born in France but spent 20 years of his life in the Dutch Republic, a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. Descartes belief in all things that are not absolutely certain, emphasizing the understanding of that which can be known for sure. -
"Faced what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage"
Confucius, a Chinese educator, writer, and philosopher, saw himself as a conduit for the spiritual principles and values of previous imperial dynasties. He emphasized the importance of achieving ethical harmony through wise discernment rather than simply following rules, suggesting that moral character can be developed through personal cultivation. -
"True knowledge exist in knowing that you know nothing"
Socrates suggests that people do not commit evil acts knowingly, and that such actions arise from ignorance. However, some people may have knowledge and still choose to commit evil acts to fulfill their hidden motives. The idea is that those who are not content with what they have will never be content with what they want. Therefore, the quote is a call to study what we desire, why we desire it, and what it takes to achieve contentment. -
"Knowledge is virtue"
Plato believed that moral values are objective and exist in a spiritual realm beyond subjective human conventions. He argued that being virtuous is the key to achieving genuine happiness, which involves being kind, honest, accountable, and so on, to everyone. Plato's primary concern was to challenge the common views people have about goodness and how they attempt to live happy lives, which often lead to disaster. -
"The nature of human being is not what he is born as, but what he is born for"
The ethics of Aristotle is concerned with action, not as being right in itself irrespective of any other consideration. Aristotle presents the concept of what is usually referred to as the golden mean of moderation. In everything that we do, we must avoid extremes. Aristotle also speaks of eudaemonia, a perfect balance of happiness and goodness interpreted classically.