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Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who emphasized the importance of moral virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, and loyalty. He believed that individuals should strive to become morally superior and that society should be based on ethical principles. Some of his famous quotation are: "Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.” and, “I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty.” -
Socrates is known for his emphasis on moral virtue and the importance of questioning one's beliefs. He believed that ethics should be based on reason and that people should strive to live virtuous lives. One of his famous quotation is: "The unexamined life is not worth living." -
Plato was a student of Socrates and believed that the ultimate reality is a realm of ideas or forms. He developed the concept of the "good" as the highest form of knowledge and believed that individuals should strive to become virtuous. Plato said that: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
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Aristotle was one of the most influential philosophers in the history of ethics. He believed that the ultimate goal of human life is happiness and that virtue is the means to achieve it. He also developed the concept of the "golden mean," which is the idea that ethical behavior lies between two extremes. One of Aristotle's famous quotation is: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
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Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who developed the philosophy of Epicureanism, which emphasized the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. He believed that individuals should strive for a simple life and that happiness could be achieved through tranquility and freedom from fear. Epicurus said that: "Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist."
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Cicero was a Roman philosopher who believed in the importance of natural law and the principles of justice and equality. He believed that individuals should act in the best interest of society and that the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance were essential to ethical behavior. Cicero's most famous quote is: "A room without books is like a body without a soul." -
Augustine was a Christian philosopher who believed in the concept of original sin and the importance of grace and faith in achieving salvation. He believed that individuals should strive for a life of virtue and that the virtues of humility, love, and compassion were essential to ethical behavior. One of his famous quotation is: “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” -
Aquinas was a Christian philosopher who believed in the importance of reason and faith in understanding ethical principles. He believed that individuals should strive for a life of virtue and that the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance were essential to ethical behavior. He is known for his quotation: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” -
Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher who believed in the importance of reason and the unity of all things in nature. He believed that individuals should strive for a life of ethical behavior and that the virtues of reason, self-control, and love were essential to ethical behavior. Spinoza's famous quote is: “There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.” -
Kant is best known for his deontological ethical theory, which emphasizes the importance of duty and moral obligation. He believed that moral principles should be universal and that actions should be judged based on their adherence to these principles, rather than on their consequences. One of his famous quotation is: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." -
Bentham was a utilitarian philosopher who believed that actions should be judged based on their ability to promote happiness and reduce suffering. He believed that ethical decisions should be based on a calculation of the overall happiness that a particular action will produce. Bentham is known for his quotation: "Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove." -
Mill believed that the moral worth of an action should be determined by its consequences. He developed the concept of utilitarianism, which holds that the greatest good for the greatest number of people is the most ethical choice. One of his famous quotation is: "The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness,"
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Nietzsche was a philosopher who rejected traditional ethical systems and argued that people should create their own values. He believed that morality was a tool used by the weak to control the strong and that people should embrace their individuality and pursue their own desires. Nietzsche is famously known for his line: “What does not kill me makes me stronger.” -
Sartre was an existentialist philosopher who believed that ethics were based on individual freedom and responsibility. He argued that people should create their own meaning in life and take responsibility for their own actions, rather than relying on external sources of guidance. One of his famous quotation is: "Man is condemned to be free." -
Nussbaum has argued for a capabilities approach to ethics, which emphasizes the importance of individuals having the ability to live a life of dignity and flourishing. She has also written extensively on the importance of emotions in ethical decision-making. She is known for her quotation: "Knowledge is not a guarantee of good political behavior, but ignorance is a virtual guarantee of bad behavior."
