Major Ethical Philosophers and their Philosophies

  • SOCRATES
    649 BCE

    SOCRATES

    Socrates was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is widely regarded as the father of Western philosophy. The ultimate aim of Socrates' philosophical method is always ethical. Socrates believed that if one understand what is good, then one will always do what is good.
  • PLATO
    428 BCE

    PLATO

    Plato is a brilliant student of Socrates and known to be an influential Philosopher. Plato developed virtue ethics, which focuses on a person's character rather than their good deeds or outcomes.
  • ARISTOTLE
    384 BCE

    ARISTOTLE

    Aristotle was an Ancient Greek Philosopher and scientist who is still considered as one of the greatest thinkers in politics, psychology and ethics. He emphasized the importance of virtue being practical, with the goal of doing actions for the sake of a man's goal.
  • THOMAS HOBBES

    THOMAS HOBBES

    Thomas Hobbes was the first great figure in modern philosophy. He was the founder of Moral Positivism. Thomas believes that humans are self-centered and will do anything for their own benefit so in order to keep the country at peace, they must implement and obey the law.
  • JEREMY BENTHAM

    JEREMY BENTHAM

    Jeremy was a philosopher, economist, jurist and legal reformer. He was the founder of modern utilitarianism, an ethical theory which morality is based on the idea that actions are morally right if they make people happy or happy and morally wrong if they make people unhappy or hurt.