Kant ’s Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Moral The central concept of Kant ’s Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals is the categorical imperative. "The conception of an objective principle‚ in so far as it is obligatory for a will‚ is called a command (of reason)‚ and the formula of the command is called an Imperative." (Abbott‚ 30) An imperative is something that a will ought or shall do because the will is obligated to act in the manner in which it conforms with
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virtue (Farrington). Without knowledge‚ Socrates felt that life was not worthwhile as is evident when he states‚ “The unexamined life is no life for man” (Farrington 5). Aristotle also credits Socrates with the analytical procedure known as the art of logic. Through dialect and intelligent conversation‚ one could logically obtain truth. Such truths must then be fortified and upheld through law and policy. “At his best‚ man is the noblest of all animals; seperated from law and justice‚ he is
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In the debate betwixt Plato and Glaucon‚ Glaucon explained that somethings are good in itself and others are good due to the consequences. For instance‚ he introduces the enlightening idea that justice is not good in itself‚ because it was created only for the benefit of others through a contract. A contract-view society refers to law making and abiding‚ because it prevents harm being done to individuals. Through this idea‚ Glaucon explained how all decisions have either good or bad consequences
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O.C #2-Machiavelli Though often presented as two ideological opposites‚ personally I find there to be a lot more similarities between Plato and Machiavelli than usually acknowledged. Obviously there are some sharp contrasts. If one examines the excerpts from Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and Plato’s “The Republic”‚ it’s easy to conclude that Plato believed it to be essential for a government leader to be just‚ good‚ and free from corruption. Whereas Machiavelli’s ideal ruler is less concerned
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justice within an individual and society as a whole‚ and attempts to pinpoint the meaning of the term. He classifies wisdom‚ courage‚ and moderation as the leading qualities a just person should possess. Using a multitude of hypothetical scenarios‚ Plato compares what should be just at a political level to the justness of one’s inner psyche. He provides many scenarios to support his statements‚ however his argument comes across as completely one-sided and biased. Plato’s ideal of a “perfect” society
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The Republic written by Plato examines many things. It mainly is about the Good life. Plato seems to believe that the perfect life is led only under perfect conditions which is the perfect society. Within the perfect society there would have to be justice. In the Republic it seems that justice is defined many different ways. In this paper I am going to discuss a few. First I am going to discuss the reason why Glaucon and Adeimantus see justice as being a bad thing and it is better to live a unjust
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Confucius versus Aristotle and the similarities between Dao‚ or as it is presently known‚ Tao against eudaimonia‚ (happiness)‚ and why these ideas are important to the study of ethics today. Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers in history. He was solely judged in terms of his philosophical influence and his only peer was Plato. Aristotle’s writings have proven to be difficult to understand to most novice readers‚ although his teachings in the Nicomachean Ethics and that of eudaimonia
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Preface The foundation of the metaphysics of morals is a critical examination of a pure practical reason. The present foundations is the search for and establishment of the supreme principle of morality. Method: analytically from common knowledge to the determination of its supreme principle; then ‚ synthetically from the examination of this principle and its sources back to common knowledge. Division: 1. the common rational knowledge of morals -> the philosophical rational knowledge
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Metaphysics The “Basic” Argument for Theological Fatalism Fatalism Fatalism is the view that everything that happens in entirely unavoidable. Since everything that happens is unavoidable‚ none of our actions are genuinely up to us and we powerless to do anything other than what we actually do. Here is Richard Taylor on what the fatalist believes [“Fate” from Metaphysics‚ 4th Ed (Pearson‚ 1991)]: “A fatalist is someone who believes that whatever happens is and always was unavoidable.
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Virtue ethics was systematized by Aristotle during the 4th century BC. In his writing‚ Nichomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle outlined three terms to describe his ideology. The first of these three terms is eudaimonia. This means happiness‚ “good spirit‚” or flourishing. In Aristotle’s eyes‚ eudaimonia is the state to achieve to realize ones full potential. The second term‚ telos‚ is the end‚ purpose‚ aim‚ or goal that one should be trying to achieve. One can only achieve eudaimonia by fulfilling their telos
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