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"The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself." One of the first philosophers was Thales of Miletus, a Greek philosopher, and mathematician who is recognized as one of Greece's Seven Sages. He is renowned for his assertion that everything is made of water and is frequently regarded as the first philosopher in the Western tradition, but he also promoted moral principles like modesty and restraint. He was also an advocate of empirical evidence and rational thought. -
“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.” Siddharta Gautama, also known as Buddha is best known for founding Buddhism and spreading its teachings, such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, to gain enlightenment. Buddha's ethical philosophy centers on the principle of non-violence or ahimsa. He argued that because all living things are interrelated, violence towards one causes harm to others. He also highlighted the value of finding a balance between excess and deficiency. -
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Kong Qui, best known as Confucius was a Chinese Philosopher and a founder of Confucianism who spread the significance of social values such as filial piety, respect for elders, and moral righteousness. Moral excellence and social peace are the core tenets of Confucian ethics. Confucius placed a strong emphasis on the value of moral conduct in all spheres of life, including family, politics, and society. -
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." Socrates was a Greek Philosopher, best known as the founder of Western Philosophy and the method of questioning called the Socratic Method. Socratic ethics are centered on the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Socrates thought that virtue was the ultimate aim of human existence and that knowledge was the way to moral conduct. -
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” Plato was a Greek Philosopher, one of Socrates’ students, and the founder of the Academy in Athens. He is known for his dialogues that explored concepts such as justice truth, and the nature of reality. Plato's ethics focus on the idea of the 'good life' which he defines as the virtuous life. He firmly believed the virtues of courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance were necessary for a fulfilling life. -
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and a student of Plato, who founded the Lyceum in Athens. The pursuit of happiness, or eudaimonia, is the foundation of Aristotle's ethical philosophy. He believed that ethical behavior was a way to happiness and that moral behavior needed virtues of action and character. -
"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will." Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Medieval philosopher and theologian, known for his synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology. Aquinas argued that natural law was a principle that God had ingrained in people. He emphasized the value of reason in making moral choices and believed that upholding moral principles was a precondition for salvation. -
"It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law." Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, known for his social contract theory. In support of the social contract theory of governance, he argued that people ought to surrender part of their rights to the state in exchange for safety and security. He thought that given that selfishness is part of human nature, a strong government is required to prevent social unrest. -
"We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without." Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher and Enlightenment philosopher, well known for his Critique of Pure Reason and categorial imperative. The categorical imperative, which argues that one should act in line with the moral principle they would like to become a universal law, is at the foundation of Kant's ethical philosophy. Kant claimed that morality was not the pursuit of enjoyment for oneself, but rather based on reason. -
"It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong." Jeremy Bentham was a British philosopher known for his ethical theory of Utilitarianism. Bentham's ethical philosophy is based on the principle of utility or the greatest happiness principle. He pointed out that the ability of an action to bring the greatest happiness to the largest number of people should be considered while judging it. -
“Nothing great in the world was accomplished without passion.” Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher, who established an influential school of idealism. He believed in the idea of morality as a duty, based on common rationality and principles of reason. He supported the idea that individual freedom must be maximized while taking into account the social responsibilities of human beings. -
"There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realized until personal experience has brought it home." British philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill is best known for his writings on liberalism and utilitarianism. 'Higher' and 'lower' pleasures ideas were developed by Mill, who built on Jeremy Bentham's idea of utility. He had the opinion that some pleasures were more precious than others and that pursuing these more valuable pleasures was essential for living a happy life. -
"Man is condemned to be free." Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher and writer who is often associated with existentialism. He believed that there is no intrinsic meaning or purpose to existence and that every individual has the right to basic freedom and responsibility. Additionally, he disagreed with the concept of objective morality and thought that everyone should develop their own moral standards. -
"The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance." John Rawls was an American philosopher and a 20th-century political philosopher. Rawls' ethical philosophy is centered on the idea of justice as fairness. He had a belief that social institutions ought to be created to benefit society's underprivileged citizens. -
“Scientific knowledge is a kind of discourse.” Jean-François Lyotard was a French philosopher and a Postmodern philosopher, best known for his work, The Postmodern Condition, and his work on the fragmentation of knowledge and truth in contemporary society. Lyotard's ethical philosophy is based on the idea that there are no universal moral principles. He claimed that ethical decisions ought to be founded in 'paralogy' or a challenging of preexisting moral frameworks.