Timeline of Major Ethical Philosophies

By allyzamaye
  • 1800 BCE

    Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill

    Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill
    The utilitarian ethics is best explained by the maxim, “Do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number.” The theory argues that what makes an act right is its consequences and not the motive of the action. The effects or consequences determine the goodness or badness of an action. An act is good if and when it gives good results, if it works, if it makes you successful, and if it makes you attain your purpose. Otherwise, it is bad.
  • 1588 BCE

    Thomas Hobbes

    Thomas Hobbes
    Thomas Hobbes believes that human beings are basically selfish creatures who would do anything to improve their position. According to Hobbes, people would act on their evil impulses if left alone for themselves; therefore, they should not be trusted to make decisions on their own. Also, Hobbes felt that like people, nations are selfishly motivated. For him, each country is in a constant battle for power and wealth.
  • 469 BCE

    Socrates

    Socrates
    The development of personal ethics is mastering what he called “the art of measurement,” correcting the distortions that skew one’s analyses of benefit and cost.
    According to Socrates, “no one commits an evil act knowingly and doing wrong arises out of ignorance.” A person will commit only moral evil if he lacks moral knowledge. Sometimes, a person may have knowledge but he deliberately commits an evil act to satisfy his hidden motive.
  • Period: 469 BCE to 399 BCE

    Socrates

  • 428 BCE

    Plato

    Plato
    Ethics is referred to as a concern to act rightly and live a good life. Plato’s main concern is to challenge the views most people have about goodness, for it is here that they go disastrously wrong in trying to live happy lives. Most people think that virtue is a minor good, or even an impediment to living a happy life. Plato considers this to be incorrect; it is only by being virtuous that we can hope to be happy.
  • Period: 428 BCE to 348 BCE

    Plato

  • 384 BCE

    Aristotle

    Aristotle
    The ethics of Aristotle is concerned with action, not as being right in itself irrespective of any other consideration, but with actions conducive to man’s good. Aristotle sets himself to discover what this good is and what the science corresponding to it is.
  • Period: 384 BCE to 322 BCE

    Aristotle