Major Ethical Philosopher

Thales of Miletus (624 BCE to 546 BCE)

624 BCE

"All things are full of gods."
Thales of Miletus was a Greek philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who is known as the founder of the Milesian school of philosophy. He believed that the universe could be explained by natural causes and that it was possible to discover the underlying principles that govern the natural world through observation and reasoning.

Anaximander (610 BCE to 546 BCE)

610 BCE

He was a Greek philosopher and a student of Thales of Miletus. He's known for his contributions to early Greek astronomy, cosmology, and his belief that the universe was infinite and in a constant state of change. He proposed the theory of evolution, that humans and other animals evolved from a fish-like ancestor in a long period of time. His ideas and contributions helped the early Greek philosophy and science, and his theories of the universe and evolution continue to influence modern thought.

Anaximenes (585 BCE to 525 BCE)

585 BCE

Anaximenes was a Greek philosopher and a student of Anaximander. He believed that the universe was composed of a single, fundamental substance called "air" which could take on different forms and qualities. His contributions to early Greek philosophy helped to bridge the gap between earlier cosmological theories and later metaphysical and epistemological theories, paving the way for the development of later philosophical and scientific thought in the Western world.

Pythagoras (570-495 BCE)

570 BCE

Pythagoras was an ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the Pythagorean school of thought. He is known for his contributions to mathematics, including the Pythagorean theorem, and to music theory and philosophy. He believed that the universe was governed by mathematical principles. One famous quotation from Pythagoras is "All things are numbers."

Heraclitus (535-475 BCE)

535 BCE

Heraclitus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived between 535-475 BCE. He is known for his ideas on change and flux, and for his cryptic and aphoristic style of writing. Heraclitus believed that the universe was constantly in a state of change and that change was the only constant. He is often quoted as saying, "You cannot step into the same river twice," meaning that everything is constantly changing and nothing remains the same.

Socrates (470-399 BCE)

470 BCE

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who believed in the close relationship between knowledge and virtue, emphasizing the pursuit of wisdom and self-knowledge as the key to a good life. His ideas on virtue ethics influenced his student Plato and continue to inspire contemporary philosophers in ethics and epistemology. One of Socrates' famous quotations related to virtue ethics is "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."

Plato (428-347 BCE)

428 BCE

"Courage is knowing what not to fear"
He is a student of Socrates, was an early philosopher who developed a comprehensive theory of virtue ethics. He founded the Academy in Athens, recognized as first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He outlined an ideal human life that involved cultivating virtues such as wisdom, courage , and justice. Plato believed that virtues were not just about behavior, but rather stemmed from a strong commitment to living a morally good life.

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

384 BCE

"Justice is itself a virtue, a habit of the mind that is exercised always for the common good." Aristotle was a Greek philosopher. Aristotle believed that virtue is a habit that we acquire through practice and repetition. Aristotle believed that virtues, both intellectual and moral, are habits that are acquired through practice and repetition. He considered eudaimonia, or "happiness" and "flourishing", as the ultimate goal of human life/argued that virtues are necessary for achieving this goal.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE)

354 BCE

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) was a Christian theologian, philosopher, and bishop in the early Christian church. He believed that the highest good was to love God, and that one should follow God's will above all else. One famous quotation from Augustine of Hippo is: "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

341 BCE

Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the school of philosophy called Epicureanism. He believed that virtue is necessary for happiness, but that virtues should be practiced for their ability to bring pleasure rather than for their own sake. He focused on the importance of pleasure and argued that the ultimate goal of life is to achieve ataraxia (tranquility or peace of mind). His famous quotes related to virtue ethics is:"The art of living well and the art of dying well are one."

Zeno of Citium (334 BCE to 262 BCE)

334 BCE

Zeno of Citium was a Greek philosopher who founded the Stoic school of philosophy. He believed that the key to a good life is to live in accordance with nature, cultivate virtues, and accept one's fate with equanimity. His philosophy emphasized the importance of self-control and the pursuit of happiness through living a virtuous life. One famous quotation from Zeno of Citium is: "Man conquers the world by conquering himself."

The Stoics

300 BCE

The Stoics were ancient Greek and Roman philosophers who existed between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. Their philosophy centered around focusing on what is in our control and accepting what is not, living in accordance with reason and nature, and striving for inner peace and tranquility. Notable Stoics include Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca. Here's another famous quote by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus: "It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE)

1225

Thomas Aquinas was a significant figure in Western thought during the medieval period. He believed that virtues are infused into our souls by God and identified four cardinal virtues and three theological virtues. Aquinas argued that achieving union with God is the ultimate goal of human life and that virtues are necessary for this goal. The famous quote of his beliefs on virtue is: "The possession of virtue is nothing else than a habit whereby man becomes good."

Erasmus (1466-1536 CE)

1466

Erasmus was a Dutch philosopher, theologian, and writer who lived during the Renaissance period. He was a humanist who believed in the importance of education, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge. He emphasized the importance of Christian morality and criticized the corruption of the church. One of the most famous quotations attributed to Erasmus is "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527 CE)

1469

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher, writer, and politician who is best known for his political treatise "The Prince." He believed that a ruler should be willing to use any means necessary to maintain and expand their power, even if this involved immoral or unethical actions. His ideas were controversial and continue to be studied and debated today. One famous quotation from Machiavelli is "It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both."

René Descartes (1596-1650 CE)

1569

He was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. Descartes' most famous contribution to philosophy is his concept of "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). He focused on the power of reason and the importance of critical thinking.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679 CE)

1588

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who believed that people were naturally selfish and competitive, and that a strong central government was necessary to prevent chaos. He argued that individuals give up some of their freedom in exchange for protection and security provided by the state, which he called the "Leviathan." Hobbes's ideas have had a significant impact on modern political theory. One of his most famous quotations is "the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

John Locke (1632-1704 CE)

1632

John Locke was a 17th century English philosopher who emphasized individual rights to life, liberty, and property in his political philosophy. He believed that government existed to protect these rights and that people have the right to rebel against a government that fails to do so. Locke's ideas had a significant impact on the development of democratic thought and constitutional government. One of his most famous quotations is "Government has no other end than the preservation of property."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778 CE)

1712

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an 18th-century philosopher, writer, and composer, who is best known for his political philosophy and his influence on the French Revolution. Rousseau believed that human beings were naturally good but corrupted by society. He believed that the state should be organized to promote the common good, rather than the interests of the powerful. "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."

Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804)

1724

"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." Kant is considered the father of deontological ethics, which proposes that moral duties are absolute and do not depend on individual preferences or circumstances. He believed that ethical behavior should be determined by the categorical imperative, a principle that requires individuals to act only according to rules that they would want to be universal laws for all people.

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832 CE)

1748

Bentham is considered the father of utilitarianism, a consequentialist theory that advocates actions that maximize overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. One of Jeremy Bentham's famous quotations under consequentialist ethics is: "The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation."

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873 CE

1806

John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist, and social reformer who advocated for individual liberty and freedom. His ideas greatly influenced liberalism and utilitarianism. He expanded on Bentham's utilitarianism, arguing that actions should be judged by their ability to maximize higher pleasures, such as intellectual pursuits and moral virtues, in addition to lower pleasures. "The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation."

Henry Sidgwick (1838-1900 CE)

1838

Henry Sidgwick was an English philosopher and economist. He is known for his contributions to ethics, epistemology, and political theory, particularly for advocating utilitarianism. Sidgwick's most famous work is "The Methods of Ethics," which remains a key text in the study of moral philosophy. One of his most famous quotations is: "The precept 'Love your neighbor as yourself' does not mean 'Love your neighbor instead of yourself'."

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900 CE)

1844

He was a German philosopher, cultural critic, and poet. His philosophical ideas were characterized by his rejection of traditional morality, religion, and philosophy, and his emphasis on individualism, self-creation, and the will to power. He believed that individuals should reject conformity and embrace their own unique perspectives and desires. One famous quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche is "God is dead." This statement, which appears in his book "The Gay Science,"

G.E. Moore (George Edward Moore) (1873-1958 CE)

1873

Moore was a philosopher who argued that consequentialism failed to account for the value of certain things that were intrinsically good, such as beauty and friendship. He coined the term "naturalistic fallacy" to describe the mistaken belief that something can be judged to be good or bad based on empirical observations of its effects.

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)

1889

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher associated with the existentialist and phenomenological movements. His work explored the nature of being and the relationship between language, thought, and reality. However, he is also controversial due to his association with the Nazi Party during World War II. One of Martin Heidegger's famous quotations is "Language is the house of Being."

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)

1905

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, writer, and political activist associated with the existentialist movement in philosophy. He emphasized the individual's freedom and responsibility to create meaning in their lives and made contributions to Marxist and feminist thought. Sartre is best known for his philosophical novel "Nausea," the play "No Exit," and the essay "Existentialism is a Humanism."

Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995)

1906

Emmanuel Levinas was a French philosopher of Lithuanian-Jewish ancestry who contributed to ethics, ontology, and phenomenology. His ethical philosophy emphasized the importance of the face-to-face encounter between two individuals as the basis of morality. He believed that recognition of the other person's humanity should guide all moral actions.
"The face is the other before death. In the face, the Other is not only invisible, he remains beyond grasp."

Alasdair MacIntyre (1929 - Present)

1929

"Virtues are the building blocks of a flourishing life."
He is a contemporary philosopher who has contributed to the development of virtue ethics. He believes that virtues are embedded within a specific tradition or community and that people need to be part of a community to develop and practice virtues. He has criticized modern ethical theories for lacking a proper account of the virtues. He argues that virtues can only be understood in the context of a particular culture or tradition.

Peter Singer (1946 - Present)

1946

Singer is a contemporary consequentialist philosopher who advocates for the ethical treatment of animals and the importance of considering the long-term effects of our actions on the environment and future generations. One famous quotation from Peter Singer under consequentialist ethics is: "The life you can save is the life you ought to save."

Martha Nussbaum (1947- Present)

1947

Martha Nussbaum is an American philosopher, classicist, and author. She argued that virtues are essential for living a fully human life, and that they are universal across cultures. She believed that the virtues are necessary for achieving human flourishing, and that they should be taught in schools as part of a liberal education. "Justice demands that we look at people as individuals, not as representatives of groups."